POSTGAME NOTES: Cain almost makes history — again; Offense comes through — again

Remember earlier this week when people were asking questions like: “What’s wrong with the pitching staff?”

Ha.

Matt Cain became the second starter to throw a shutout in five days, and the second to flirt with history. Cain’s one-hitter was more impressive than Barry Zito’s performance Monday, and he took a no-hitter one batter further than Madison Bumgarner did yesterday.

And this wasn’t just a no-hitter. Cain was perfect through 17 batters.

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“I was definitely aware of it,” he said, adding that a perfect game has been a lifelong goal. He has never had one at any level.

Cain fell just short again, ending up with his third career one-hitter. Some of the other numbers from his masterpiece:

Cain recorded his eighth double-digit strikeout performance, coming up one shy of his career high of 12.

This was the 14th complete game of Cain’s career and his fifth shutout

Cain threw just 106 pitches. Through five innings he had thrown just 58 pitches, 40 of which were strikes.

According to SABR and the great Bill Arnold, Cain became the seventh pitcher in history to throw a near-perfect game where the only base runner was the opposing pitcher.

“We’ve all seen him locked in like this, but this was as good as he’s been,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He had all his pitches working.

“He was right there at the glove. Buster said he knew early that Matt was locked in.”

Posey also knew what the scoreboard said.

“You get to the fifth or sixth inning and it’s hard not to think about (a perfect game),” Posey said. “You definitely felt like we had a shot.”

Alas, Cain again was left wondering what could have been. And because of the opposing pitcher!

One of these times, though, I think he’ll finish the deal.

— The offense gave Cain six runs of support on Sunday and he blew it. “He was upset,” Bochy said. “He took responsibility for that.”

On Friday, the offense once again came through. Posey had a big hit, Melky Cabrera was again All-Star-ish and Aubrey Huff even got into the action.

Huff hit his first homer in the season in the eighth inning, solidifying his already-pretty-solid hold on an everyday job.

“I like the way Aubrey is swinging the bat,” Bochy said. “We’ll get settled in and probably get a little bit more consistent with the lineup, but until then, we’ll go with the hot hand.”

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There are a lot of hot hands right now. The streak of seven straight games scoring four-or-more runs is the Giants’ longest since 2003.

“I think it’s just a different type of offense that we’ve got now,” Huff said. “It’s a different brand of baseball, no doubt.”

Put aside the Huff Hate for a second. He’s going to play every day, and if he can extend the lineup, this offense can continue to be pretty good.

“They’re just making stuff happen,” Cain said. “Melky has been swinging a hot bat and he’s been doing that since spring training. You get Pablo and Buster behind those guys — that’s going to be fun for us.”

— Cabrera had two more hits, raising his average to .414. He got spiked when he scored in the first inning and said coaches told him not to slide headfirst anymore.

— Hector Sanchez caught Cain’s pre-game bullpen session and Bochy said that will be a regular thing with all the starters. The Giants want their young backup catcher to become more familiar with the pitching staff.

Posey doesn’t mind, saying it will “save my legs throughout the course of the year.”

Seems like a good idea in every respect.

— All credit to Cain, of course, but the Pirates are phenomenally bad. I looked up in the eighth inning and Angel Pagan was hitting .111; three Pirates starters had lower batting averages than that and two more were under .200.

— The Giants improved to 48-42 all-time on Friday the 13th and 10-3 in home openers at AT&T Park.

— Brandon Crawford made a spectacular play to save the perfect game early on, then later admitted that he once threw a one-hitter in high school. Talented dude.

— There is nothing that I could say to properly capture the classy pre-game scene with Bryan Stow and his son, who threw out the first pitch. Stow was shown on the scoreboard, along with his mom. Dan Brown did a wonderful job of summing it all up, but I’ll let the Giants do the rest:

Bruce Bochy: “(Bryan) looked great, first of all. To hear him speak, it was really nice to see his progress. A lot of emotions go through you. From last time I saw him, he’s made tremendous progress. His family has been through a lot and people can see that and realize we are playing a game. What happened shouldn’t have.”

Matt Cain: “That was something that was definitely close to home. That family has done so much to get Bryan to where he’s at now and it’s such an amazing story. It was very fitting for (Jeremy) Affeldt to be out there with them; he’s done such a tremendous job with that family. It was very, very heartfelt to be able to see (Bryan) out there.”

Aubrey Huff: “It was a great idea, no doubt. You’re getting ready to play baseball and you’re trying to hold back tears.”

Jeremy Affeldt: “Man, it was pretty awesome. A good tribute to the family. It was an awesome thing all the way around.”

Affeldt was asked if he gave any tips to 13-year-old Tyler Stow, who threw a nice pitch in front of 41,138. “No. He throws the ball a lot further in the air than I do sometimes.”

I liked seeing the old guys from the 62 team introduced. Felipe Alou looked pretty happy with the cheers for him, and Mays and McCovey were well received too

End of the Bench

Are ‘Orange’ Fridays strictly reserved for Friday ‘NIGHT’ home games.. Just curious

Croix de Candlestick

Got a new car last month and it came with a trial subscription to XM, which was playing the KNBR radio feed today. Bay Area folks might take that for granted, but it’s been 9 years since I moved to North Carolina. It was awesome! Reminded me of having listened to 140+ games every year on my transistor radio growing up. Unlike a few on this board, having not played competitively, I’m sure most of what I’ve learned about baseball came from listening to Hank Greenwald (among others) call the games over the years. Good times!

BigJinKerman

Never thought this bunch could score runs consistently like they have well done fellas…keep it up!

“•The Rays aren’t looking for a short-term solution behind the plate, but they’d like to add an everyday catcher who can contribute for years, according to Stark.”

If you think the Rays will part with a Pitcher just for Belt, think again. It’d likely cost the Giants H.Sanchez as well. My fear is that a month from now Pagan will still be struggling and Sabean ship Belt, Sanchez and three Minor Leagues out for a “young pitcher” and BJ Upton (currently on DL).

SurfCity

It will be a shame if the Giants trade Brandon Belt. Yes Huff had a great day. But even if he has a great season, he’s not the long term answer. The only positive thing I can think about it is that it might give Belt a chance to play with a team that wants to play him.

walt kovacs

i hear that don larsen was cracking up when cain gave up the hit to the pitcher

stickman

Great Cain Scrutiny Alex. Also liked the insight regarding Hector catching the Bullpens and thus saving on Buster’s busteds.

Count me in on the re-sign Melky mob. Because of the development of talent in the pipeline with outfielders such as Dominguez, Kieschnick and Brown; my thought is that SF’s offer should be relatively high-dollar but short term, like two years, maybe in the range of $35-$40M. Cabrera might jump on that kinda offer now ~ maybe even for $25-30M for the two. If he does, as Alex hints, become a strong All-Star candidate and maybe even be in the running for MVP (early to project on 7 games, but he did hit over .300 with more than 200 hits last year for K.C.) he might price himself out of the market for SF and might get courted with post McCourt money to wear Dodger blue. Giants brass needs to have that discussion ~ soon.

E-B

hey Alex & Dan & Carl. thx for print & post game notes.
Dan, nice job w/ the Stow story and luv’d the video. Also luv’d the pix of ’62 guys, in the dugout.
Carl, sorry I missed the live chat.

———-
re: willie.
ah er eh …
i really don’t want to know what ails him.
i really don’t want him to tell anyone what ails him, except behind-the-scenes people like Bochy or Righetti or Gardy.
he’s a psychological anchor of this team.
he knows it, and i believe this year he will let the right people know if he’s hurt.
keep it all in-house is good w/ me.

———-
re: buster at 1b permanently, in future?
maybe, but imo, a waste of his keen, brilliant bbIQ.
e.g., w/out buster, we don’t get the win yesterday in 9inn. he steered the ship, as a great catcher does.

3b seems better fit for him after many years of catching/orchestrating games. he is too too brilliant to waste at either 1b or 3b in the short term.

i sorta picture hector helping to reduce buster’s workload these next few years. it’s win-win. buster’s catching career extended. hector’s catching career blooming.

as talented as buster is, took him approx 1 full month to learn to catch Timmy’s pitches. hector’s got loads of talent, so i’d expect him to need the same amount of time to hone the technique.

———-
re: belt.
agree w/ @Lefty — would appreciate some consistency on all the “why” “wah” non-reasons given, all totally inconsistent.
agree w/ @Bud — yes, it appears to be an emotional tie, rather than reason. everything is clearer w/ that rationale.

we won’t see belt in the l/u for a long long time after today’s 1-game sample size. period.
belt got his 3-game try against a much better team; that’s all.

—————————

hoping buster continues to heal
ditto for freddy. we need him in the l/u.

—————————

over and out, and keep goin S F G !

Outta Here

Sabean should work like hell to sign Melky to long term contract before the season is up. If not, he’s gonna get some big offers as a free agent.

E-B

p.s. stick. agree. even w/ all the young talent we have on the farm (brown, dominguez–what a stud, parker, many others), need a veteran presence in the OF.

that’s melky.

his work ethic also a good example for the kids & vets.

OnTheFly

Great game….awesome opening day! Give kudos to those that did well and be positive. I hate to see yet another thread filled with comments about Belt. There are a lot of other guys who go through struggles as well. Get over it. Go Giants!!

Paul Heally

Free Brandon Belt!!!

al oha

If Vogelsong is anywhere near what he was last season, which I believe he will be, and Timmy is up to the challenge of getting on track like Cain and MadBum have done, and Zito can be as good as he can be, this is going to be a really good season.

Slash78

@OnTheFly, Belt isn’t “going through struggles”, he’s been benched. Bochy will look for any and every reason not to start him.

Not playing Belt last year and this is hurting the team. One, it doesn’t help his development. Two, it lets other teams know how low the Giants value him.

Whatever Notional Trade Value Belt has due to his age and talent is negated by the Team that says they really, really like him, but won’t play him. That makes his Real Trade Value next to nothing.

And if he never plays enough to actually learn at the Major League Level then he’ll never be a use to the team on the field.

The most any team would give up for Belt right now is a 25+ y/o non-prospect Double-A Reliever. Because there is no reason fo them to get up anything greater. Not when the Giants doubt him to the point they won’t even play him.

Gooser

I’m leaning towards that Fly. I love Belt, but he is one of 25. When he is in he needs to hit the ball hard and he will get another chance. If he can’t do that then have someone else in there. Ironically tomorrow would be the time logically you would not put him in there. How come I expect to see his name in the line-up?

I’m with Stickman and others. Sign Melky now! Love his balance at the plate. Best on the team. Give Pagan time. He didn’t forget how to hit. He just needs to lay off the high ones.

Ernie Riles

Fellow Fans:
It’s the 7th game…be patient and relax.
Pagan will get his hits. He’ll be at .275 by September.
Let Belt platoon. He will get broken in…but slowly. Let Huff have his contract year.
Don’t be too sure Freddy will be back. Def NOT going to be an every day guy anymore, we need to hope that Manny can find his stroke or look for a mid season acquisition.
I love Melky.

JD4SF

The Wisdom Cow says:
April 13th, 2012 at 8:37 am
95..
JD, with you, I was having fun. The Ghost Protocol line (the title of which was not part of Baggs tweet, at least the portion you posted, only cruises Mission impossible haircut), was outside the scope of knowledge, IMO, of a barb baseball playing grandmother (Unless, of course, she is “hip” on top of cool).
=========

LOL. I happen to like the Mission Impossible movie series. Used to watch the TV series, too. A couple of months ago I snagged my gkids on a rainy day and we watched all the Mission Impossible movies … but Ghost Protocol is pending Blu-Ray release on April 17. Nice to know this grandma is now “hip” on top of cool.

Now … how ’bout them Giants? Their Mission for 2012 does *not* seem Impossible!

Slash78

My question is this. If it’s still early, then why not let Belt play? Why not give him 150-200 PA before June 1st to see what he can do this season? Why wait for the team to go into a collective funk offensively, then try to play him? Why wait until the team is far back in the standings well into the season before the Giants desperately try to pin there hopes on Belt, after sitting on the bench, suddenly waking up offensive.

Posey didn’t have to be the Savior in 2010. They trade Bengie away because not one really gave the Giants a chance. Pablo didn’t have to be the Savior in 2009. The Giants didn’t have much of a chance and he help them have at least a shot at the post season.

It’s STUPID, STUPID, STUPID. Plan?!?! Their ain’t no plan!!!

Look how they treated Bowker. He came up in 2008 and for three months he was there only power threat. It wore him down and he pressed badly. They sent him down. They left him in the minors in 2009 until the offense bottomed out, then they brought him up. He struggled so they sent him down. 2010 he won a job out of ST but that only lasted til his first slump. Then he was gone. The pattern repeats with Schierholtz, Ishikawa and now Belt. They only get to start when the offense sputters. They are expected to succeed when everyone around them is failing.

The offense is hitting. Now is the time to get him in there. Not when Bochy is desperate to “change things up” after team scores few then 5 runs in 5 games.

Buck

Discalimer: I like Belt. I am an assistant coach. In basketball.

For 15 years I have watched as players who I thought could be players if given time/opportunity/whatever struggle to gain any kind success. Almost aways an experienced coach was able to sense this much better and much more consistently than I could. In a short time frame like 2-3 high school or college years they might not pan out. But over the life of a major league ball player I think its different. Belt will get there but there is no need for him to get there now and the coaching staff proabably senses that. So they limit his exposure. And it doesn’t have to mean the Giants are going to bench him indefinitley, reduce his value or send him away as Mick said in Rocky II – “Poimanent”.

OnTheFly

I’m just pointing out the fact that there are other guys trying to win a spot just like Belt is. I happen to like Pill and a few other guys who get limited chances. When Pill has come in, he has usually produced. It’s a high-pressure situation, but you either come through or you don’t. This isn’t little league anymore. Sick of all the crying about poor Belt. There are a lot of other guys in the same situation who weren’t fast-tracked the way he was. Maybe if he would have had more at-bats in the lower levels he would be better prepared to learn how to adjust to major league pitchers.

OMT

So frigging happy Huff made y’all eat pine today, meats!

Belt will never be traded. What are you guys smoking? And he doesn’t need to go down to AAA. He can be like Aaron Rodgers was to Brett Favre and learn all year, get his chances when he can, and contribute. And he will. He is needed on this team. He is still just a kid… really.

This team is gelling before your eyes. Dang it, just enjoy! This team will win close to 100 games, yeah, you heard it here first. When Freddy gets back, look out NL.

You guys just can’t accept the FO has got their shizzle together finally after the stench of Bonds is finally, finally now… gone. It took a long time to get out of that funk but that time is now here.

The team needs Huff this year but only this year and then he will be gone.

Oh yeah, really stoked on the way Nate seems to finally have got the message. I finally see passion in his AB’s.

El Lobo

Fantastic game by Cain today. No need to talk about anything else to ruin the vibe of winning on opening day.

slash78

If belt is aaron rodgers then huff is trent dilfer, not brett farve.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

1 hit, and to the pitcher. If he never gets a no-no, this one will haunt him.

OMT

Not calling Huff Favre. Just the learning curve in the bigs is all I’m getting at. Belt can learn from every veteran from position players to pitchers.

The Oracle

I would only like to point out that nobody can say Belt is struggling. HE’S ONLY COME TO THE PLATE 13 TIMES! That’s not enough to even be called a slump. Maybe he would continue to struggle, but nobody knows. Maybe Bochy is a baseball savant to the extent that he can make a determination based upon such a small number. Funny though, he didn’t seem to be able to figure out Huff last year, even after 500 ABs.

slash78

There will only ever be one way to learn how to hit Major League pitching. That’s by facing it on a nightly basis.

The only thing Belt is learning right now is the sooner he can get out of SF the better.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

JD, your making me cry. You liked ALL the MI movies? As popcorn flicks, I guess, but DePalma made a very good 1st one that was just over too many people’s heads, so they dumbed down the rest.

——————————-

Ernie Riles @ 7:43,

Is that you, Ernest Riles? Remember me? In 1989 you were headed for the club house, when I stuck my leg over the rail (in a cast) holding a sharpie out. You signed my cast, and then got mobbed by kids, costing you about 15 minutes or so before you could get back to business. You went on to have one hell of a game, though, making me think you would forever check for casts in the crowd before games.

My favorite game, ever.

SurfCity

OnTheFLy, tell me you didn’t say this:

“Maybe if he would have had more at-bats in the lower levels …”

lol

SurfCity

I’m convinced it’s something about Bochy’s psychological makeup. He doesn’t develop players. That’s just the way it is. Maybe he’s the Don Nelson of the Major Leagues.

SurfCity

TWC, u r right. Cain’s going to be thinking about that one for awhile – lol. The pitcher, the one player you can breathe a little bit with and bam! Still it was an awesome game by Cainer – I’m so glad he pitched the home opener, and I bet the entire organization is too.

=====

Loving this offense.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

OMT @ 8:27 – nicely put. Many of us (myself included) want Belt to play, but it’s probably not the end of the world if he takes on more of an apprentice role this season. He can still work with a big league coaching staff, still learn from all the veteran big leaguers (Huff included) — then next year take the job and run with it.

I’d still like him to get at least 250 ABs though, and of course, the Posey/Hector situation complicates things.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Wrong again, Dinero! Probably not the end of the world? Think again. 2012? Mayan Calendar, hello! This is Belts last chance. Bochy is screwing him.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

LOL, very nice TWC. You’re right, it’s now or never for Belt, we’ll all be dead before Christmas. I forgot, my bad.

Sfgposey24

I’m getting extremely fed up with the way Bochy is handling Belt. He is the future, and he has already proven he can crush minor league pitching. So PLAY him. Get him in there some how. I love Brandon Belt, and the way he has handled this whole situation shows just how much maturity he has. He hasn’t once griped to the media about it. Just because he has three crappy games doesn’t mean he needs to be benched.

Slash78

@Dinero, wasn’t that the Battle Cry of the Bochy Lovers last season? “Don’t worry, there is always 2012 for Belt”. Well, it’s 2012. Belt is getting even less rope then he did last season.

Last season he started 13 of the first 15 games and played at least some in all of them. He didn’t start, but appeared in games 16 and 17, then got sent down.

This season he’s three and done.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

@Slash – you have a point, but as long as Huff and Nate are helping the team win, I’m not going to complain too much. YMMV

avwh

Great home opener. Cain was SO dominant (of course, the Pirates are a glorified AAA team, again).

I got there early, took a few candids around the cage, the player intros, and lots of the HoFers from the ’62 team (Willie, Willie Mac, Baby Bull, and Gaylord), and the emotional first pitch from Brian Stow’s son:

Hope you enjoy them. I don’t know how many more times we’ll see those 4 HoFers together again, as they’re all getting up there in years…

Campanari

I have a hard time thinking of a young position player whom the Giants didn’t play and who proved since that they should have played him. Bowker couldn’t stick with any ML team; Lewis and Frandsen have been very meh, at best. One has read ad nauseam about how these guys got hosed by the Giants, but no one offers or can offer real evidence that they got unjust treatment. Maybe the FO have been and are better judges of young talent than the blogosphere so noisily believes. I’m inclined to see their handling of Belt in light of their past success in judgment, and not of the bloggers’ horror, dismay, indignation, sarcasm, and melodramatic misery.

SurfCity

avwh u were there? Sounds awesome! Glad u had a great time, great game, and took some pix

SurfCity

I forgot all about the Mayan calendar.

We’re doomed!

http://www.baseballholistics.blogspot.com/ Herbalist

I think the giants would be better off with Belt in the Minor Leagues if he is not going to play everyday in the big leagues.

I was one of many fans who experienced visceral pain during the 2011 season during every single one of Aubrey Huff’s 579 plate appearances; however, is not a post about why Belt should be in the lineup everyday.

It is abundantly clear that as long as Aubrey Huff is on the payroll, Brandon Belt will not get a chance to play and get significant at bats at the big league level.

Brandon Belt belongs in Fresno not because he struck out in 5 of his first 10 plate appearances (PA) but because Bochy and Sabean will not give him a chance to get 250 PA and demonstrate what he can do with big league pitching over a larger sample size.

read more by clicking on my name

Slash78

Bochy VS Belt…

Bochy…

Bochy said he was going with the lineup that gives the Giants the best chance to win.

“We lost the first three games so we’re trying to get back on track here,” Bochy said. “He’s been working on some things. We’re going to try and mix them all in the lineup and and win some games. We’re going to go with the hot bats.”

Bochy said “guys sometimes dictate where they play” with their production, adding, “I’ll get (Belt) in there as much as possible.”

Belt…

Belt admitted to being over-amped early on, when he was 1 for 10 with five strikeouts in three starts against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“I was excited to get playing and maybe pushed too hard,” he said. “I think that happens. The more you play, the more you learn.”

Belt said he met with Bochy on Monday but hasn’t since been told anything about playing time.

“I don’t know what the plan is from here on out,” Belt said. “The last couple days I’ve had a chance to catch my breath. I’m in the cage and doing the same preparation. I’ll be ready when they put me in.”

_____

Bochy is going game to game on his “gut”. He as no plan. No vision. Basically is hope the Starters go deep in the game, keep the other team from scoring and someone hit a three run homer. Then put Trevor Hoffman…er….Brian Wilson. Win.

Plan on luck. Hope for the best. If it happens enough, you have a winnig season. If it doesn’t, then there is always next season. And the one after that.

Monday he told Belt he was sitting. Hasn’t talked to him since. Way to build confindence in a young player. NOT!!!

Pigkiller has no plan. Never has, never will.

SurfCity

Her Belist, I ain’t clicking. Belt has ridden every ride in the minors. He’s done that. Won’t help him.

Sansui-Sans Haiku Corner

This was something more
Than a simple baseball game…
Eloquence fails me

avwh

SurfCity:

I’ve had season tickets since 1987 (2 seats at Candlestick, 4 at PacBell – I split them, so I usually go to 30-35 games each season, plus all playoff home games).

Foothills Ryan

So where is Belt going to play? As far as I can tell, Huff and Schierholtz are ahead of him right now. Nate had 2 HRs in CO and 2 hits today. Huff had 3 RBI on a hit & HR today. There’s no place to slot him regularly. This is a nice dilemma to have. They’ve got a young bat with a lot of potential but don’t have a place to put him because the incumbents have enough ability to maintain their jobs.

It looks like the best place for Belt is to hit every night in the PCL. There’s enough talent down there to cut his teeth. Imagine going up against Heath Hembree. The other teams in the PCL probably have more pitching talent than the Giants. Belt has only accrued a few hundred bat in AAA anyhow. Get him those AB’s then bring him up when the opportunity presents itself. It’s not hard when you trust the process and trust the talent

SurfCity

avwh says:
April 13th, 2012 at 9:37 pm

SurfCity:

I’ve had season tickets since 1987 (2 seats at Candlestick, 4 at PacBell – I split them, so I usually go to 30-35 games each season, plus all playoff home games).

===

Awesome pictures! (though I had to skip quickly over Gary Radnich, lol)

And by the way, you have very nice seats!

SurfCity

Foothills, I think you are right – Giants don’t need Belt at all. They have other players they want to play ahead of him. But he’s already torn up the minor leagues, and they’d just be putting him down there because they don’t know what else to do with him and they don’t really want him. I think it’s looking more and more like they will trade him – and honestly, that might end up being the best thing for everyone. Trade him to a team that needs him and is interested in working to bring him to the next level.

JD4SF

The Wisdom Cow says:
April 13th, 2012 at 8:48 pm
32..
JD, your making me cry. You liked ALL the MI movies? As popcorn flicks, I guess,
=========

Hey, I watch movies for entertainment and “escape” not to be a critic. Give me a halfway decent plot and some reasonable acting, some good action scenes, and I’ll consider it entertainment.

NCIS, CSI, Criminal Minds, Castle, Missing, etc. are my kind of fodder. Oh, and I enjoy traveling with the Tardis.

I watch John Wayne re-runs and old westerns, too. Gunsmoke Rules! Give me the eye roll, I just finished watching one of the old Rawhide shows with Clint Eastwood.

Pass the popcorn, please.

—

Mayan calendar???
LOL

avwh

The Radnich picture was really for the Magowan radio interview.

I had the same equivalent seats at Candlestick, though they were further from the field. I have gotten 7 foul balls over the years from my seats.

http://www.baseballholistics.blogspot.com/ Herbalist

Its not that I believe he needs more time in the minors..Eric Byrnes said it best…”stop listening to people who say he has a hole in his swing..when you get a fastball under your hands dont swing at it and with two strikes just try to foul it off”

But the problem is that if he is rotting on the bench then the giants are getting very little value out of him and it does not make sense to waste one of his pre-artibration years for him to produce a sub 1 WAR season on the bench.

SurfCity

Herb – Giants should trade Belt for just the reasons you point out. Rotting on the bench or wasting another year on the bench is silly.

Giants either don’t want or have decided they don’t need Belt. They prefer Huff. Belt’s agent should look into a trade. Belt is going to a player that the Giants just stash – they don’t want him, but don’t want anyone else to have him.

Unless they are going to get a new manager, Belt has no future with the Giants.

Hoot

Aren’t there other players on the Giants that should be mentioned, too? You know, outside “FreeBelt” campaign?

Yay for the rest of the team!!!

Hooray for the rest of the season to play out!

I, for one, am going to enjoy any lineups Bochy puts out as long as it leads to a win!

I’ll cry and sob when its appropriate. Like in October when its playoff time and the Giants aren’t in it.

EC

Belt…giants 0-3 w him starting–3-1 w him on the bench.

Why is this a debate?

Belt will be a good player but he isn’t yet

Slash78

@EC, really?

Giants are 0-4 in games the Pitching gives up 5 or more runs.
Giants are 3-0 in games the Pitching gives up 4 runs or less.

Nope, it’s all Belt’s fault.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

EC – I thought of pointing the W-L record thing out as well, but realized the difference has been pitching really. Nothing to do with Belt…unless he somehow makes guys worse pitchers.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

just watched the game back, and I have to agree with Sansui – so much more than just a baseball game. This was a really special day for the Giants and their fans. That one won’t be leaving my DVR anytime soon…if ever.

Slash78

Pagan VS Belt…

Yeah, really hard to strike out when you’re hitting popups and weak grounders on the first or second pitch.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

Pagan stung a couple balls today, he may yet come out of it. It’s unfair to give up on Pagan based on a small sample (27 ABs) just like it’s unfair to give up on Belt based on a small sample — especially since Pagan is a 7-year big leaguer with a history of early struggles.

Orange&BlackAddiction

Somehow I think if Cain had pitched a perfect game today people here would still be blathering on and on about Brandon Belt.

Slash78

@Dinero, Pagan is a Seven Year Vet who’s overall numbers are an awful lot like Fred Lewis’. Though Lewis had a better OBP. Pagan is a little better at base stealing.

Fred Lewis>Brandon Belt?

Hoot

Let it go and enjoy today’s and hopefully tomorrow’s game, too.

Nightynight ya’ll.

Dreaming of another WS win for the Giants and us fans.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

hmm, interesting comparison slash. I never said Pagan > Belt though. If I replace Pagan, it’s for Blanco. Blanco is the only legitimate leadoff guy on the roster IMO, and I like defense.

OnTheFly

Orange&BlackAddiction…..Well said. Thank you!!

Slash78

People are “blathering” on about Belt is when the Giants really, really need a big bat to boast the offense late in the season Belt will still be picking pine splinters out of his butt and won’t be able to produce. Pagan isn’t a big bat. Huff? One good game in over 2 1/2 times as many PA was the diffence between his and Belt’s HR totals last season. I don’t trust him to produce. Cabrera? Probably as productive as a 2007/08 Randy Winn. Good, for #1/#2, but not a big, middle of the order bat.

The Giants need more then Sandoval and Posey. They don’t have it.

I’ll say it again because people don’t seem to understand it, the offence is scoring runs now. It would be the perfect time to have Belt in there learning while the rest of the lineup makes up the difference. When, NOT IF, the offense struggles because they don’t have enough bats Belt will not be ready to “step up” because he won’t have the experience.

Even Huff’s good season in 2010 he was a non-factor in April, August and October. And he put up the worst numbers of any 1B in the game last season. Why should I have faith that he’ll be everything the Giants need him to be?

Everyone remembers the big offensive trade Sabean made at the 2010 deadline right? Cody Ross? No, he came later. Pat Burrell? No, he was earlier. No, I’m talking about Jose Guillen, his 38 starts in RF and his sub .700 OPS and bad defense. Not really his fault. Sabean traded for an injured DH and tried to put him in LF. Guillen got a lot more hype and a greater fanfare from the FO. Matt Downs got dumped off the team for putting up .690 OPS yet Sabean trades for a broken down vet who hit only .692 OPS with the Giants. They could have given Schierholtz most, if not all those starts and would have gotten the same production with much better defense and better speed on the basepaths. They could have put Huff out in RF and gotten better defense at both RF and 1B and Ishikawa was outproducing Guillen.

Yes, Pagan has a track record. It’s not all that great and his numbers are easily replaceable.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

this place can be so depressing.

great win today G-Men, go get ‘em tomorrow!

Night all.

Hoot

I doubt if the Giants come crashing down again in August the load will heavily rely on Belt’s shoulders. Its a team effort. Hopefully if Belt continues to sit, if and when he does get a start or chance to play, I hope he contributes. Hector Sanchez and Pill has…without having to play very much. I’ll keep a more positive outlook rather than be concerned -if- the Giants 2012 is a failure, so far outside of a couple games, they look good to me. Unfortunately other teams also improves their clubs which influences the Giants destiny.

Last year wasn’t all Huff’s fault, it was a combination of everyone in the lineup failing to produce, period. It seems the anxiety about Belt and his yet to be proven major league career is over shadowing what Huff did in 2010, that Huff’s success was 2 years ago. Well new year new season, let it play out before fussing.

If people don’t trust Bochy, than that must suck to be a Giants fan since Bochy is the one controlling the lineup and holds the trust of those within the organization.

primetimedonna

A L

Parttime Donna. Hey, I’ll have you know some of us had to work at the park today….dirty job but somebody has to do it!! ;>)

Seriously, it was a glorious day out there for Opening Day. The weather was great and the Giants were running on all cylinders, pitching, hitting and fielding! One of those days that make you think anything is possible!!

At this point in the season we have 25 guys all of whom have the potential of doing their part to make 2012 special. It all lays ahead of us. Having too much talent is never a thing to worry about. Bochy has shown us he can make up lots of lineups and get all the guys in over time. Some may be starting strong to get us off to a good start, and others will be needed to pick up the pace later in the season. I don’t really see any dead wood, and know they’ll all have chances to step up to be heros. We’re at that point when all things are possible. Let’s try to enjoy the ride!

Go Giants, All Giants!!!!

Woj

Please stop with the Play Belt rant every single game, day in and day out. This guy is hitting sub .200 on the year with little power. He hit .225 last year. Stats don’t lie. The guys playing 1B taking ABs from Belt (namely Pill & Huff) are hitting better. Stop falling in love with Belt’s potential and look at what his stats say he is – a young backup 1B right now. Lots of Giants fans do the same about Crawford. The reason Craw is playing daily now is the .260 average and good fielding not the pie in the sky potential.

#FreeBelt would mean more if Belt had #AllStarStats.

Woj

The offense looks great. Melky DID bring his bat warmers on the plane. He is still raking. Pablo smoked 1 too and Posey as well. That Melky/Panda/Posey tripley should be hitting 3/4/5 in the order. Huff in the 6 hole is just fine the way he’s been swinging Craw in the 7 hole is good too.

Sit Pagan – I’m tired of the .111 average. Let him think about how to improve that … from the bench watching Blanco lead off. Get Belt in there too – Schierholtz is going ot Pumpkinize soon.

Mavo

Now THAT is what I am talkin’ about!! Our two studs go out and hold two teams hitless into the 6th in back to back games! Timmy better get his act together Monday or two Cy’s or not he’ll only be at best the No 3 on this staff!

What a masterpiece by Cain today. That is why I was NOT opposed to them going five years for him! I do not like this trend for long-term contracts in baseball especially for pitchers who can flameout on one pitch. But of anybody on the team that could possibly justify the mega 5 year deal … it is Matt!

Now if Zito pitches well tomorrow night and Monday was not a fluke we’ll really have something going here.

Absolutely tore me up emotionally to sit here right across the street with the roar of the crowd and miss my third straight Opening Day because of this terrible disease. But it would have been a lot worse if they had lost!! And I have full intentions of somehow someway beating this disease and being back out there in Sec 122 right behind the dugout!!

Good health to ALL

Livefree

Thats a 3-HR game in most parks. Remarkable that its been 9 years since this kind of stretch … if they get a leadoff man and hit with RISP, look out

deceptively athletic perfect for the system

sometimes its hard to tell if we won or not depending on these comments.

bringing up Bowker while trying to make a case for playing Belt is not a good tactic FYI.

He has yet to deliver consistently in the major leagues. If we didn’t have designs on winning the West which just got way more competitive with the Dodgers starting off good, then you can play Belt and let him develop. We don’t have that luxury. Huff is hitting/getting on base, Nate is hitting, and Pill is hitting. If anything, I would understand more arguments for playing Pill since he’s had success at this level and shown right-handed power. Belt is still young. Spring training dont mean crap.

Big bat? Have you not been paying attention? are you just worried about Belt? Our offense is looking great. Crawford’s hitting those gaps on and off the field, Burriss is getting hits. Melky, Pablo, Posey are producing. Once Pagan either heats up or Blanco gets PT watch out. We lead the NL in runs with very little production in the leadoff spot. And that will change very soon.

cheezegrater

Mayan calendar ends in December. Win it all this year and the Giants could be champions eternally. There will be no one to dethrone them next year!

Bochy haters, Belt did not get benched until after Bochy was ejected. I was wondering why he didn’t replace him with Belt when the first lefty came, what’s his name, Miley? But he left him in there against the lefty. Not until after the ejection and the second lefty came in did the acting manager take Belt out.

Bochy has always had a soft spot for Belt, like when he made the team out of Spring last year when he really shouldn’t have. I think the bench coach and the hitting coach talked him into benching Belt after the final game of the Arizona sweeping.

Tacoma Giants Fan

I really can’t believe that people would be on here trashing bochy or sabes for their treatment of belt, when MAT CAIN THREW A 1 FREAKING HITTER TODAY! The offense came to life in front of the home crowd! In my opinion, this team has playoff potential, and any player, whether it’s Belt, Pagan, Huff, etc. should be benched if they aren’t producing. Boch rides his hot hitters, and it happened to win us a ring in 2010, so i’ll trust the friggin guy. For Matt Cain and Buster Posey to have the homecoming they had today, i couldn’t be more pleased!

wineguy

Belt will eventually be good, maybe better than good. Now he is not so much. Huff is better for the very short term. Pagan, is not so much now, but he will be better, like a .275 / .335 obp / 25 SB / 40+ 2B / 2.3 WAR player.
Anyway, it doesn’t matter. Giants will make it to the WS in 2012, and again in 2014…winning depends on fate/random chance/karma.

Cain pitches the game of his life. We get 5 runs and the win and most of you are commenting on Brandon Belt? really?

Lefty

Hi all from New Orleans! We had a great day yesterday, today is an easy day, and tomorrow we head home! Fingers crossed we don’t lose any kids while we feed marshmallows to alligators during the swamp tour today!

We happened to be back at the hotel right when the Giants were playing, so we got to watch the first seven innings on my iPad. Wow, what a great day. It looked absolutely beautiful out there. The Bryan Stow moment made both of us cry.

It was most fitting that the heroes of the day were Buster and Cain. The ovations were amazing, and I loved the shot of him smiling at it before putting on his catcher’s mask. And then he drove in the game-winning run (the only Cain would need!) with a Buster-esque drive to left-center! So great.

And as for Cain, his first start in front of the home fans since the new contract, and wow, he does THAT? Just wow. Nice running catch by Pagan in the first and tremendous fielding play by Crawford to keep the perfecto alive as long as it was. Most no-nos have a couple of those. Also, he spared the bullpen, and after Coors Field, they needed a breather.

Fantastic home opener.

Lefty

I wanted my last post to be just about the wonderful game.

I’ve read the articles and comments about Belt and don’t have too much to add. I’m troubled about the situation but can’t get overly worked up about it when the team is scoring runs.

I think I agree with Herbalist and Slash78 that Belt should be in the minors so that he can play everyday. The truth is that the plan all along was for Huff to play 1B and Nate to play RF. We all knew that ever since last fall. It got “messed up” when Belt had a great spring and Nate did not–but that was always the plan. Belt should go to Fresno, not because he needs more time there, but because he is blocked and he needs to play.
The way seasons go, someone will get hurt or someone will underperform, and he will be back and get his chance. He will be better prepared for that by playing, not sitting.

Calls to trade him are short-sighted. Huff is not blocking him forever, just for this year. And his trade value at the moment is less than his potential value to the Giants. As I’ve said before, even if they see Posey moving to 1B sooner or later, Belt could be a good-to-excellent outfielder. If he goes to AAA, I’d like to see him playing corner OF a lot.

Here’s one more reason that it would be better for Belt to go to Fresno right now. It would get him (and Bochy) away from this intense scrutiny. That would be better for the team and especially better for Belt. I’m very troubled by Bochy’s comments yesterday, as they could be interpreted as intense personal negativity toward Belt. I’m hoping that he just got frustrated with being grilled about it and that his opinions are really more measured and objective than they sounded. However, I’m also disturbed by the report that he hasn’t even talked to Belt since Monday. He told Belt that he would be out one day and back in the lineup, and as he obviously changed his mind, he owes Belt an explanation. He does. When you say one thing and do another, that erodes trust.

Finally, I wish commenters would stop saying “Belt hasn’t produced” and “look at his stats.” Someone above even mentioned THIS year’s stats. He has 13 plate appearances and 11 ABs. That is not a “track record.” That doesn’t prove anything. As for last year’s stats, they can be interpreted several ways. You can look at the BA and say “tsk tsk.” Or you can look at the 9 home runs in 187 (very sporadic) ABs and say “wow, look at the potential.” None of that potential has been discounted OR proven in 2012. For Belt, 2012 hasn’t happened yet, because 13 PAs is NOTHING.

So Belt should go to Fresno because the team is scoring without him and Bochy has two guys he prefers to play ahead of him–and Belt needs to play.

Jstreet

And you could look at the strikeouts at the major league level. And you could focus on yesterday’s Giant success. And give it rest, already. This subject is tired. Let’s try something fresh.

Bud

Crawford’s first 13 ABs this year weren’t any better than Belt’s. The difference is the Crawford was given the opportunity to work at it ever day, to see live MLB pitching, make adjustments, and it was all done with the confidence that he’d still be out there if he had a bad day at the plate. That is how you allow young players to develop. What they did to Belt last year and what they are doing this year is a great way to stunt the development of a player.

All of this for what? The “potential” that Huff might be able to hit .275 with 18 HRs while playing poor defense? Huff should be the savvy veteran who is used as a late inning pinch hitter with occasional spot starts.

Pagan, unlike Belt, has had a large sample size of unproductive ABs. It is time to put Blanco and his high OBP in the leadoff spot. He should get the job for a month, then reevaluate.

Pill doesn’t really have a position or a long term future with the Giants.

cornacchiajoe@yahoo.com

From what I am hearing from Met fans who would know obviously, is that Pagean is a very streaky hitter. He is either very hot or very bad. So there is simply no in the middle. For the one who made the comment about Belt playing bad. Just a reminder that he has had 11 at bats. Willie Mays started his career 1-26. Now if those out there take the same approach with a young hitter and quickly say he is not ready, Willie Mays would have never got the chance to continue his career and be one of the greatest to ever play the game. Baseball is the one sport where you can not come to a conclusion on the talent of a ball player until he has had a significant amount of at bats. Belt only had 200 something at bats last season where they were never even consistent. He started the year having 50 something straight at bats and that was it. The rest was at bats spread out all the time. And this season he has 11 at bats and some of you are writing him off already? Belt just may never be a dominant hitter in MLB, we just don’t know because he has simply not had enough at bats career wise in the Majors. But we won’t know until he is at least given that chance. We may never know actually. I’m feeling that Belt is more trade bait as the days go on with this organization

Mendel

So many people wasting so much time worrying about Brandon Belt. He has pop and he’s a nice player, but he is overmatched at the big league level. More career strikeouts than hits. Barely over the Mendoza line. More ABs would help him, sure, but we’re trying to win a World Series here. Belt has to HIT if he wants to play, and so far he hasn’t done that.

Get behind the Giants and stop wasting your breathe on Belt! We’ve got a hell of a team this year and it’s going to be a fun ride. But it won’t be much fun if all you care about is who is at 1B.

Freddie Sanchez

The good news is that we are only two games back in the wild card race.

Say What

Bochy’s same old, same old. Huff has his good game to buy him a month of ’11 Huff. Pill and Belt languish while Bochy BS’s. I see Bochy’s sone is a pitcher – I hope some manager treats him like Bochy treats our younger players.

Jstreet

If Belt could play shortstop like Crawford, he might get a look. Otherwise your comparison is laughable.

Bases Drunk

Sabean and Giants will not trade Belt because the national media is bashing bochy on his handling of a young player and if they trade him and he gets a chance and succeeds it would be very embarrassing, if they play him regularly and he succeeds also in the I TOLD YOU SO category so unfortunately Belt has become a pawn in this EGO GAME.

Buster Posey call up in 2009 he got 17 plate appearances and had 2 hits a .118 average and year 2 Bochy was forced to play him when Bengie was traded.

i am not comparing Belt to any of the above just The point being When a young player starts his career at any sport there will be struggles and growing pains and GREAT managers understand this.

Bochy does not like or trust young players going back to his San Diego days which was fine in 2010 with all vets but the giants are transitioning to youth and Bochy is not the right guy.

Bochy loves stats well in 18 years as a big league manager he is a below 500 coach 1363 wins 1380 loses and 1 world series ring in 18 YEARS and in 2005 and 2006 won division titles with San Diego yet was let go because padres where not happy how he developed young players, there is a lot of capable guys to lead this youth movement but Bochy isnt they guy

Ih8thesIdts

Geniuses anybody with a BAT can get a hit Kvocs and four legged abortion~~~~~~~

billm

Don’t worry, Matt. Your perfecto lies ahead of you. You are just too good. It will come, maybe this year. Judging by yesterday, San Diego might be a good candidate.

3rd king

Melky and panda. Brings me back to kent bonds. Melkay can mash, panda can win the MvP.

Go giants

Bego

I agree with y’all about everybody crying about belt when Cain pitched a gem and huff hit it well….if you guys insist on crying about something then it’s gotta be pagan he is not getting these guys going if it wasn’t for melcab this offense would again criticized. Free blanco and sign melcab….belt will get his just be patient…

Lefty

Mendel: “Get behind the Giants”? Please see my post at #84.

“so far”? Belt has 13 plate appearances and 11 ABs. There IS no “so far.” 2012 does not exist for Belt “so far.”

I reiterate my point: If they don’t need Belt right now–and with the team scoring runs and Huff and Nate in the lineup, it looks like they don’t–they should send him to the minors where he can play everyday and continue to develop. Right now matters. The future matters too. Period. No bashing of anyone else. It’s a reasonable position.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

JD, you travel with the Tardis? I love you again!

I’m waiting for Larry Baer to wake up and have Giant Fez night. Fezzes are cool.

Lefty

On another topic: CF/lead-off and 2B continue to be big question marks. Right now they are papered over by other people hitting and three pitching gems in the last four games.

Blanco has not hit much better than Pagan in his couple of starts, but I would like to see him get some opportunities. When Melky got his hit in the first inning yesterday, I said, “It would be nice if there wasn’t always one out when Melky comes up.” Such a good hitter–all that RBI potential wasted by him coming up with the bases empty so many times. He may lead the league in runs SCORED hitting ahead of Panda & Posey, but why not put him in a better RBI position?

Neither Theriot nor Burriss has been impressive at the plate–no big surprise there–and they’ve been reasonably competent in the field, so it’s not a crisis. But right now CF, 2B, and pitcher are dead spots in the line up, and Crawford is probably not going to be a huge hitter, either. That’s a lot of dead weight in the batting order. If anyone else gets hurt or in a slump, the offense could tank pretty quickly. Not sure what the answer is, but hurry back, Freddy, and let’s see what Blanco could do with some starts in the lead-off position.

Foothills Ryan

I’d say the crowd is overreacting to Pagan almost as much as they are to the Belt situation. I haven’t had the opportunity to watch all the AB’s but our excellent audio feed and radio team create the picture. Pagan does not sound like a batter struggling at the plate. He sounds like a hitter struggling to hit the ball where the defense isn’t. He’s hit some at-’em balls and he’s not getting any cheap hits like say Schierholtz has come up with. It’s the nature of the game. In SABR-talk, Pagan has non-realisitic BABIP. This will come up, he’ll get his confidence and be the solid leadoff hitter the Giants bargained for. If not, they give Blanco a shot. I see that Justin Christian is tearing up the PCL; early but picking up where he left off last year.

And yes, like the good Dr. says, 2B is a dead spot. Theriot sounds Therrible and it would be a blessing if Burriss could steal first. But we’re going to be optimistic that Freddy Sanchez makes his return in May. And if that doesn’t go well, then Charlie Culberson and/or Joaquin Arias get a call.

The Giants have some nice depth going on. Which brings us back to Belt. Right now, he is what an ML team dreams of. A hitting talent that they don’t have to force into the lineup. They’ve got enough positional talent that he has to wait his time. He is reinforcement in waiting. It’s a good thing. Ask the Angels about Trout. They’ve got a logjam of outfielders so they don’t have to rush one of the consensus top 3 prospects in the game. The Nationals are playing it cool with Harper as well, but he needs time in minor league play for sure.

All’s well that ends well. Trust…

Enjoy the game !

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

No matter how well the team is playing, there will always be aspects of the previous game, the short term roster, or the long term plans to discuss.

Cain will never forget a 2-1 pitch he served an opposing pitcher. It will be most interesting to see what he does the next time he still has a no-no going and faces a pitcher. Any man with a bat is dangerous, except a quadriplegic, and a pacifist, like myself.

Short term, CF and 2B are in holding patterns. Right now, I lean toward Blanco in CF, as he seems to have a plan at the plate and on base. Pagan is a guy that will get hot at some point and really set the table for long stretches. The CF situation could be a lot worse. We have two part time CFs that both can play leadoff. Remember Rowand?

2B is kinda similar, having two better than average (my opinion) back up 2B, covering the position until Freddie is back. Presuming Freddie gets back in a month or so, it’s just a position to deal with, like any other injury situation. If Freddie is not coming back (a legitimate fear, but not yet substantiated), then the position is an issue. Neither Theriot or Burriss is a long term solution.

The long term issue is Belt. That’s why the issue keeps coming up. If we knew the plan for him (and Bochy stuck to it), people would not be chiming in on the subject each day. Again, until he gets a long look with consistent playing time, a determination of whether he can adjust to the majors is not possible. To those mentioning the Giants not missing a talent evaluation on a young player yet, revisit the issue, under Bochy, not just the Giants. Bochy has done it before, most famously with Shane Victorino.

Plus, if a young player is jerked around enough, he may never be able to stop looking over his shoulder when he gets a chance, never being able to overcome the mental side of the game. A manager can ruin a player. Also, players don’t get good chances as they age because the payoff for the club return on the investment is lessened. You play a young guy you know will fail some while getting experience for the payoff of quality years down the line. Once 26 or 27, a guy that never got a true chance may never get one.

Now, there are clearly some critiques above, with some negativity towards Bochy’s decision not-quite-a-process, but it is really just talking baseball. I know some hate the same argument coming up over and over again, but often a new commentator puts something up which then gets countered and the entire discussion is revisited.

Oh, and Lefty, earn any beads?

pacman68

Great Post MAVO!! I wish you the best.

Foothills Ryan

And yes, let’s talk about Cain.

Looks like the Giants locked up the right guy. Well done. It’s not hard to project him pitching like this 5 years down the road. All the superlatives are music to fans ears: masterful, brilliant, etc.

So long as there’s no viable alternative in the 2 whole, Melky works just fine there. It’s nice having extra base potential there. Get his bat into the action sooner and a hair more often.

If the Giants go up against a starter who is deliberate out of the stretch, it would be fun to see the speedster lineup deployed:

Pagan
Blanco
Cabrera
Sandoval
Posey
Huff
Crawford
Burriss

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Foothills, I’ve noticed a little Baer PR Spin during the Pagan ABs (imagine if Torres were tearing it up for NY). Some good swings, true, but also some really bad plate discipline, taking hittable strikes and then swinging at the next pitch well off the plate. I think he is a guy that needs a while to get his eye, and pressing for a new team doesn’t help. He’ll get there at some point.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

I’m with Pac, great to read you, Mavo. Keep enduring the rough and soaking every last bit you can out of the good.

Foothills Ryan

Clinical Psychologist says…

“So much projecting unto Brandon Belt without expertise. Fanciful really. There is a plan, conducted by experts. They assume the risk, knowing they could be wrong, but do so under careful deliberation, not the wishful projections of outside observers. It’s alright to root for your team and your favorite players. Be careful erecting mantles before actual achievement. “

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m thinking good karma Zito thought today. Here’s hoping he’s found the formula that works. You and Hector party, Barry. Peanuts are on the gallery.

Bases Drunk

Normally the handling of Belt would be no big deal this year except unfortunately after how bochy handled belt last year fans have zero faith this year in bochy which is understandable so until they trade, send down or play him Bochy will continue to get criticized by fans and most baseball experts.

Cain thru a great game yesterday but i will not get excited dominating the Pirates.

Huff show me you can hit against Kershaw, Halladay, Lee etc and i will believe you should be starting

Melky is a stud he is a conditioned athlete which seems optional on the giants but somebody they can build around.

Pagan its to early to judge yet but be nice to move him out of the lead off spot till he gets going maybe in the 7th or 8th spot but after watching rowland fail there for 2 years i just dont see bochy changing.

Giants need to win 2 out of 3 against bad teams like the pirates because they are going to struggle against the top tier teams

Lefty

Wisdom Cow: Beads?! Did I mention I’m a chaperone?!

Lefty

I figure Zito will pitch a no-hitter. The only guy who got a hit for the Bucs will not be in the lineup tonight!

stickman

Now its Pagan’s temperament. Seems part of the reason why Bochy keeps trotting him out day after day is the apprehension that our lil’ Angel’s wings will darken if he’s not treated with kid gloves. Okay, i have long got it that he is a slow starter and needs his reps. But every day?

Maybe the mgr. should sit down with both Pagan and Blanco and tell em “here’s the deal: You got three games to show some production, else the other guy gets his three in leadoff. We can’t have a black hole in that spot. You’ve both got wheels. We need you on base. May the best man get the lion’s share of starting time.” Could just be that knowing what’s gonna happen if you don’t do your job is better than the apprehension of wondering and dreading when the shoe is gonna fall.
And sometimes a little competition can work wonders.

walt kovacs

i agree with everyone….belt needs to play

IN FRESNO

thank you

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Belts best friend isn’t Bochy or Fresno. Boy have these gadgets come a long way. The one the Giants showed on Clubhouse Confidential last week is an upgrade over this one.

a cruel truth, Pill, Huff, and the rest of the line at 1B won’t cry too much about Belt if he were to fold his tent, one less body to crawl over to play.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Lefty, you can come on line after they go to sleep, but you can’t go have any Norlin fun?

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Who’s Bochy’s best friend, CC? I’m thinking Huff is his one boy, cuddly toy, his ups, his downs, his pride and joy.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

TWC,

if I ventured a guess, Ms Bochy. But he’s partial to the ‘grape’ as well, from what I understand. Huff is more like his favorite dog, that he will sadly have to put down at years end.

Ih8thesIdts

Four legged abortion Pagán is the BEST CFer, PERIOD per Krukow~~~~~~~

Lefty

Cow: No. I stay in my room down the hall from my group in case THEY try to sneak out. I did take them down Bourbon Street last night. My small-town kids were pretty wide-eyed, hoo-boy!

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Don’t think of it as a troll, but rather an inch tall gnome, not even heavy enough to push down a computer key without jumping. It makes for a pleasant mental image, an angry little gnome, jumping and leaping from key to key in front of a computer screen, sweat dripping off it’s tiny little brow, becoming red faced in exhaustion as well as anger.

Jstreet

Petulance, whining, crying.

Foothills is one of the few here thinking things through. How about the Grizzlies this Thurs night?
Lefty, I am mostly in agreement with you; consider this – sending Rookie Belt to Fresno might not be as productive as using him here in the bigs as a part time player.Biggest advantage would be that when he does play, he faces big league pitching. When he doesn’t, he observes and learns, both the opposing pitchers and the different approaches to hitting. And the hotels, etc. are much better. All this talk about him NOT playing enough to get in a groove is as unfair as judging him from his few at bats thus far. Teams and players, as Ryan suggests seem to find a way to use everyone over the long haul. Right now, this team is on a roll, how bout it?

And for others to demand a plan from management is a bit Pollyanaish. The team operates within the realm of its own personnel. PR spin and hype are just a part of the business, much like any other competitive organization. These wild speculations as to the intent or meaning of management moves is just that – speculation.

For me, and my friends it’s Go Giants!

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Lefty,

hall them across Pontchartrain to that ‘nest’ of lights at the other end of the causway. That used to be an eye opener. If you ever read or saw All the Kings Men, that’s the old Shushan plantation.

it is easy to forget baseball is an entertainment industry. It’s a bit disquieting to view fans in the same light as the devoted followers of The Guiding Light. I think a shiver just ran up my spine.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

JStreet, the team is 3-4, not exactly on a roll, though I get your point. I brought up knowing the Belt “plan” more in criticism that believing we’d get one. They had offered “plans” for Belt on 4 previous occasions, 3 times last year, and stuck to none of them. That goes more towards Belt than us. Unless they told him they were just feeding the press BS, which I doubt.

Here’s what I think would be best for this year’s team regarding Belt and Huff, which doesn’t need to happen any time soon, just by late May.

don’t know if this has been mentioned, can’t bring myself to read through yet more re-hashing of the Belt thing — but Pagan has some serious ownage on Morton. 7-for-9 with a 2B and a 3B. Wouldn’t be shocked at all to see him get another start today, good chance to get something going.

The Wisdom Cow, you are right. My slogan is emphatically Pollyanaish. The point is, my fanhood is grounded in the reality that baseball is indeed a privately run business, which I have chosen to be both a customer and supporter of. But I’m not going to pretend I know how to run it any better than I know how to make and sell guitars, which I also love. At least I can play the guitar fairly well.

These folks that behave as if the team would be more successful if only they’d be allowed to do the job, that’s what grates on me. And you are right in citing the record as 3-4. However, in fairness, they’re 3-1 of late. Including 2 masterpieces. That’s what we should be discussing here, not the fantasy of having your way with the carreer of your favorite rookie. And that,s what I meant by saying this team is on a roll.Btw, I know it’s only a coincidence, but the last several games have been won without said rookie’s on field participation. But he is part of the 25, and that’s why I advised Lefty to rethink her idea of sending him to Fresno. He’s here for a reason. The reason is the season.

By nature, all sports fans believe in something unreal – a child’s game. But we don’t need a child’s maturity to enjoy the games.

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

nice, cool report cc. pretty much the LU for today I’m guessing.

ClutchUp

SuperDuper says: April 13th, 2012 at 6:24 pm 1..Awesome game!!!
I have an idea for the name of the blog….How about?“The Warning Track”

Super: There were so MANY good names, including just now yours, but during the change over, they kept ExtraBaggs Soooooo long that I think they “just settled” for something with the word Extra in it.

Wasn’t my favorite: I wanted something Original or with Pavs and Stew in the name….

“The Los Angeles Dodgers’ sale to a group led by basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson for $2.1 billion and the Major League Baseball team’s plan to exit Chapter 11 this month were approved by a U.S. bankruptcy judge on Friday.”

ClutchUp

End of the Bench says: April 13th, 2012 at 6:41 pm 3..Are ‘Orange’ Fridays strictly reserved for Friday ‘NIGHT’ home games.. Just curious

rhetorical anybody. EOTB: Probably because most games on Friday are night games ….uh….

The colors orange (and black) are out at Willie Mays Field 24/7 though.

Nate’sFanMom

Hi everyone,

I just got through reading all of your comments. Here’s my take:

On Huffy: why are we surprised? He was going to get every chance to be in the line-up, no matter what the pr was. And guess what? He’s squaring up the ball, playing decent defense. He is NOT going to sit unless he implodes.

On the need of some to post your line-ups: Hasn’t Bochy proven, time and again, that he’s going to post HIS line-up?

On Belt: The FO somewhat leaked the notion that he is soft. What Belt needs to do is prove them wrong—that’s what they want. That’s their operating method: insult the young player and make him prove himself.

Eg., Nate. It took Nate a long tme to figure that one out, which he did in 2011. They did it again for him, questioning his desire (Per CSNBA). He responded by hitting two HRs.

That’s what Belt must do: when he gets a chance, he need to tear the cover off the ball even if he makes an out.

RE: Pagan. He’s in the same category as Huff. He’ll get every chance to get untracked.

House rules
• No impersonating real-life public figures, alive or dead. This includes parents of the players, etc.

Foothills Ryan

Perhaps all of business is just a child’s lemonade stand with fancy marketing and focus groups and accounting departments, etc. Baseball is just another another facet of life, like education, farming, war. It is what is, and we enjoy it for what it is. Last time I checked, grown men play and treat it with all the professionalism that a doctor or banker would.

JStreet,

I looks like I will be going to the game tonight. The headline on the Grizz splash page is: “Grizzlies off to best start in team history”. Hopefully I don’t jinx them. Tempted to go tomorrow as well en route to town to get the tubes on an amp checked and fixed. Thursday may be a stretch.

For the record on Belt: I am just as excited as anyone to see him mash as he did 9 times last year. He’s needed in the lineup. I was right there with Dr. Lefty in the hurrah section. I was there with Clutch in the sensibility section. I found a middle road. And that has made all the difference. It would be great if Bochy could get him regular at bats, but right now it isn’t happening. Not much I can do about that, so I won’t give much ado.

ClutchUp

Buck says: April 13th, 2012 at 8:12 pm 22..Discalimer: I like Belt. I am an assistant. Belt will get there but there is no need for him to get there now and the coaching staff proabably senses that. So they limit his exposure. And it doesn’t have to mean the Giants are going to bench him indefinitley, reduce his value or send him away as Mick said in Rocky II – “Poimanent”.

Kudos Buck! Please post more often. What you see is often missed by fans who are fanatically in love with their point of view 6-7 games into the season.

ClutchUp

SurfCity says: April 13th, 2012 at 8:52 pm 31..I’m convinced it’s something about Bochy’s psychological makeup. He doesn’t develop players. That’s just the way it is. Maybe he’s the Don Nelson of the Major Leagues.

=Bochy is not in charge of development. He’s in charge of steering the ship with the words San Francisco on the front of the jersey…

Foothills Ryan

One thing is for certain, Bochy will have a big head-ache filling out tonight’s lineup.

Guess:

Pagan
Cabrera
Sandoval
Huff
Belt
Sanchez
Crawford
Theriot

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

I’ve settled in with Foothills as well. I think both sides of the Belt saga have merit. I’m super excited about the kid as well, love his potential, but at the same time understand a bit more of a patient approach with him right now. Not gonna get my feathers too ruffled about it.

pacman68

I don’t know why it has to be Huff vs Belt? The Giants need both of them sharp and producing. Baseball is a long season and Huff will go into a slump. Guarantee it. That’s why Belt needs to be given time to learn ML pitching. You cannot have too much offense. Everyone has to remember.

– Huff will go cold.
– Nate will go cold.
– Pagan is already ice cold.
– Posey will struggle. He has yet to play a whole season and he’s coming off a major injury.
– The Riot is mediocre.
– Melky is fantastic.
– Burriss is mediocre
– Freddy is a wild card.
– Crawford has been great.
– Panda is fantastic.

There is no reason to send Belt down. He needs to get his hacks cause when the dog days come and Huff is gassed. Belt needs to pick up the slack or expect another horrible August.

Bochy is always so big on keeping everyone fresh and get the bats that they need. Belt, Pill and Blanco should not be the exception. Don’t let them rot on the bench and throw them to the lions when the offense hits a snag.

dgg

I live in a house divided. (This is what can happen when your kids go to college in LA. An unforeseen consequence.) So I’m constantly aware, in excruciating detail, how the Dodgers are doing. Right now, the blue guys are 7-1, top of the division, and the league, for that matter. So all I care about right now is getting on track and winning. The Dodgers have a W4 streak going right now, and the Giants have just started with W2. We can’t surpass them until we catch up. I agree with Bochy: “We’re trying to win ballgames. That’s our only priority. It’s not to get anybody ready.”

I must admit I’m a bit nervous about Zito today. I really want him to do well. For the team and for him. It would make a great story: Comeback Player of the Year.

The Wisdom Cow says:
April 14th, 2012 at 8:58 am
99..
JD, you travel with the Tardis? I love you again!

I’m waiting for Larry Baer to wake up and have Giant Fez night. Fezzes are cool.
============

I’m waiting for the Tardis to transport a young Willie Mays forward from the past and drop him into the Giants cluhouse so I can relive my childhood with the appreciation of an adult.

ClutchUp

Lefty says: April 14th, 2012 at 6:14 am 77..I wanted my last post to be just about the wonderful game.I’ve read the articles and comments about Belt and don’t have too much to add. I’m troubled about the situation but can’t get overly worked up about it when the team is scoring runs.

Lefty!!!!!! Your long road trip has not detracted from your sensibilities. I agree with your statement…. because two polar opposites can be equally true. Belt should have ALSO gone to the Frez last year, but CRoss pulled his pullable calf muscle. The tear-jerk moment in Bochy’s office should not have been made public regardless of how many people got “off” on it. Showtime/Primetime – Ugh, sorry.

Oh, have you benched or 86′d anybody yet after the hormonal coming out party the other night

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Dinero,

given the histories, very good guess.

ClutchUp

The Wisdom Cow says: April 13th, 2012 at 8:35 pm 26..1 hit, and to the pitcher. If he never gets a no-no, this one will haunt him.

Why? No hitters are funky …. the play that crawford made had the runner not been called out – would have been considered a single.

pacman68 says: April 14th, 2012 at 11:48 am 134..I don’t know why it has to be Huff vs Belt? The Giants need both of them sharp and producing. Baseball is a long season and Huff will go into a slump. Guarantee it. That’s why Belt needs to be given time to learn ML pitching. You cannot have too much offense. Everyone has to remember.

* ++++++++++++++++++ *

Agreed but the common folk won’t watch, enjoy the game without wondering IF and WHY their thought process wasn’t USED by 8 1/2.

I agree, JStreet, but I also think there is room for both critiques and support in the comment section without reading them as mutually exclusive.

——————————

Wow, the histories actually have me a little worried. How the hell can they keep that up? I mean, Morton can’t be that bad or he wouldn’t still be pitching, right?

ClutchUp

Anybody? Can somebody actually put into words how Jim Kozimor arrived in the Bay Area. During his opening 30 minutes on KNBR this morning he used the word “I” this and “I” that about 27 times…

Is he a figment of his own imagination? His Chronicle Live performances are horrid especially when he trys to be Greg Papa 2.0.

Too many Music references on a sport show….

And the topper? After 6 games he blurts out the Melky Cabrera is SF’s MVP. Granted Cabrera is a HUGE component of a teams success and Leche has been solid, but WHAT gives a sports talk show host his premise to NAME him MVP after under 10 games, with guys like Posey, Sandoval, Cain, Lincecum, sitting right next to Leche?

Did Kozimor come from Sacramento?

ClutchUp

Random: Interview with Gaylord Perry yesterday …. “I had Mays playing Centerfield behind me for 10 years and McCovey … for 10 years … and Cepeda on the team for 6 years”…. “I was blessed”…

*Yes 36 you really were*

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

CU,

I was seeking to amuse you, not inform you.

Kozimor has become known as ‘rat face’ in some quarters. It takes a lot to make Pappa preferable, but he has.

Any insight on why Ratto’s morning TV gig was cancelled yesterday.

Ih8thesIdts

3-4:
Two ER’s in three WINS>Superb>IT~~~~~~

Foothills Ryan

Keep in mind, the Dodgers have only played the Pirates and the Padres. Not cream of the crop. Reality will set in over the haul (hopefully!) and they’ll move to the middle of the pack with the Rockies.

***Perhaps a final statement on Belt and the Belt bias (or non-bias in Bochy’s mind):

The Giants don’t exactly grow positional prospects on trees. Especially not highly touted one. So when one does arrive, our response is one of anxiety. Get him in there! He’s a sure success! Baseball is a grind and not all the sausage that comes top quality -perhaps too lean when put in the grinder. Clutch can resonate this.

Checking in on Gary Brown. The Eastern League is now a grind for young Gary. Don’t pencil him into your opening day lineup for 2013 or 2014 just yet. After a solid start, he may be in the process of making adjustments to a challenging league. Good luck Gary.

JustGuessing

I go to about five or six games a year (single dad, three boys at home, busy). Yesterday was one of them. I watch a lot of eighth grade baseball. If these guys were eighth graders (which they are not) these would be my guesses and observations about yesterday:

Cain’s every pitch was so dramatically sharp, even in the beginning. Locating it all over the place. One pitch was terrifyingly good, no one could hit it, Lincecum-like. And such an ironclad motion. We got him cheap.

Confidence:
Huff picked it up as the day went along. Hope he didn’t spend his capital on alcohol last night, which causes depression and weakens the legs. I was very pro-Belt and anti-Huff until seeing this game. Now I think, play whichever one has the most confidence. Both are excellent with confidence and horrible without.

Melky, besides balance, has a swing I wish I could teach. It’s compact put he generates maximum power because it’s compact, even though complete. Lots of little back muscles go into that swing.

Crawford” compact swing but I do not like it and I don’t think it can be improved, it is what it is.

Confidence Part II:
Pagan looks like someone who is not swinging with his best swing. When he hit it yesterday he was not generating maximum power. I believe that if he keeps playing and settles in his hitting will dramatically improve.

Confidence Part III:
Nate’s sort of heartbreaking. The swing changes only slightly, a slight hesitation or slight flailing at the ball, when he is not confident. When he is confident his swing is a beautiful thing.

Outfield: Boy did I like it. I think it may prove intimidating to opposing hitters, especially opposing outfielders who wonder why the outfield isw so huge when they are on defense and so small when the Giants are on defense.

Crawford and Posey: just amazing to watch. People are not even bothering to joke about Tejada or Orlando Cabrera because Crawford is light years beyond them defensively.

Pablo: he’s really fat. Not “heavy;” fat. I see him an an unselfish player who gives the impression of being selfish because of swinging at bad pitches and lacking eating discipline. He might be my favorite player because I love his spirit and you’re never quite sure what will happen offensively or defensively (he really has to set his feet to make sure the throw to first is accurate and I think that’s because the stomach throws off his balance; I think this is going to hurt us a couple of times this year, throws being late or wild because of the balance issue). I think he’s underappreciated.

Burris: really unimpressive at the plate, but having had the same surgery as Freddy I don’t think anyone can say Freddy is coming back to stay with any certainty.

“It is unfortunate about the Parkinson’s. But, he disclosed it for his benefit at the last contract negotiations.

*** Ralph seems to forget the company stood by him after his four dui’s and covered up his predatory behavior on the ‘sales girls’ ***

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Just..

great recap. I know what you mean about Cain’s ‘stuff’, that 2 seam look like it as breaking on a right angle from the CF camera. And maybe it was my imagination, but looking at the radar, it seemed he was getting his cut fastball to break left, down, or right. It was breath takingly impressive.

Stu Miller’s Gust

A PERFECT GAME DEFINED: A game in which the pitcher faces 27 batters, allows no hits, and throws 27 pitches to get a complete game shutout.

By that definition, there has never been a perfect game, and there never will, but perfection is in fact something humans can never achieve. With every pitch, the goal is to get an out, a strike, set the batter up to make an out later, or to hit him.
Here is the box score to what I consider to be the most perfect game ever thrown. It was a 58 pitch, two hit shutout. It still holds the record for shortest night game: 1:15.http://bit.ly/IX4pv4

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

Foothills – yep, GB is struggling to adjust to the EL no doubt. Still too early to make any conclusions though IMO. Gotta let it play out a bit.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

CU,

KNBR understand, Barbieri understand, two oxymorons for the price of one. I just hope Kate Scott doeesn’t get caught in the propwash.

ClutchUp

Channel ….Wisdom….Dinero ….PTD …. et al.

Lots of posts. Was the barehand grab by Crawls35 discussed at all, a little, not so much or ????

Vintage Omar.
Tejada, Orlando and quite a few dont’ even get to the ball before it stops rolling

http://giantspipeline.com Dinero

absolutely CU, that play by Craw was absolutely fantastic. Not like Joe Schmoe was heading down the line either. Just wow. Cain walked off the field shaking his head in disbelieve. Man I love stellar defense!

Stu Miller’s Gust

Clutch up, you’re despicable. At least Ralph never got on this blog and lied about his job or posted using numerous sock-puppets. I don’t know why the SJMN allows you to use this forum to be a such a creep.

primetimedonna

J Street @11:31

This is getting to be a habit, but again, great post!!

ClutchUp

channelclemente says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:28 pm 165..CU,KNBR understand, Barbieri understand, two oxymorons for the price of one. I just hope Kate Scott doeesn’t get caught in the propwash.

CC: Once in awhile…most of the time you’re gonna hafta set up the explanation better for my-pea-brain to understand better

And Kate Scott’s S_preferences precludes her from getting involved IMO.

Quite amazing that except for Murph-Mac and Tolberts initial on the air mention = NOTHING from Radnich or others unless I missed it!!

Quite amazing that during the 7 minutes that Ralph said it took them to terminate him, get his belongings, reclaim his key-card and escort him to his car they KNBR treated him exactly the same way that Ralph had treated some/most of his listeners for most of his years on the air.

Ironic.

JD4SF

I saw on TV the pitching machine the Giants now have where you can program the kind of pitch, speed, and location to serve up to each hitter in the batting cage. VERY cool!

I suspect the cost would be heart stopping sticker shock for my barn, but that doesn’t mean I can’t drool over it.

I’m betting all players with known weaknesses in their swing are seeing plenty of time with that machine so their next game AB they are better prepared and more likely to succeed.

Here’s hoping Belt is smacking the snoots off that machine, building muscle memory and confidence so he can come out facing live pitching and destroy the ball those pitchers think they’re serving into his hole.

ClutchUp

Stu Miller’s Gust says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:33 pm 168..Clutch up, you’re despicable. At least Ralph never got on this blog and lied about his job or posted using numerous sock-puppets. I don’t know why the SJMN allows you to use this forum to be a such a creep.

-You should look in the mirror. I have one board name, unlike you

JustGuessing

Clutch: we don’t want to talk about Crawford’s barehanded grab because it would have been the play of the game if Cain had thrown a perfecto, especially as the ball bounced off Cain’s glove first. So it makes us think of what might have been.

But I loved the way Crawford started running off the field as soon as he threw it, pausing only to bump gloves with Cain. Classy and humble.

I was sitting next to a dad taking his son to his first game; the dad asked me if Cain had a no-hitter going. I said “actually it’s a perfect game so far, but we’re not supposed to talk about it because supposedly it’s a jinx.” Next pitch…….oops. True story. Poor dad, hope his kid doesn’t blame him.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Cu, Dinero,

I think a lot of folks didn’t see the spectacularness (?) of Crawfords play, because he made it look so effortless. ESPN had it number 2 on outstanding plays behind a DP Alexi Rameriz started for Chicago.

ClutchUp

Doubtful that Ralph will try parking in Mr. Baer’s parking spot at ATT in the future, but one never knows…

what I meant about Kate, is that her primary showcase is Radnich show, and if he goes, who know who gets caught by the broom. In a year or maybe less, I would love to see her in Pappa/Kozimors chair. Fast track those other morons out of the way or the door. Being gay doesn’t seem to slow Radnich down, at least with the comments, although I understand he’s use to blonds with different equipment.

Speculator

Shorter JStreet:

1. “Petulance, whining, crying.” = Everyone that doesn’t agree with me is a baby. Even shorter: “STFU you haters”

2. “Foothills is one of the few here thinking things through.” = Anyone that agrees with me is very smart.

3. “PR spin and hype are just a part of the business, much like any other competitive organization” = Stop picking on the Giants. Don’t mention it ever when they spin something – you meanies.

“These wild speculations as to the intent or meaning of management moves is just that – speculation.” = Only I JStreet can speculate on team’s motives without actually quoting anyone from the team

By the way, I read on another blog, Don Larsen was in the crowd yesterday. Take that where you may.

ClutchUp

JD4SF says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:35 pm 171..I saw on TV the pitching machine the Giants now have where you can program the kind of pitch, speed, and location to serve up to each hitter in the batting cage. VERY cool! Here’s hoping Belt is smacking the snoots off that machine, building muscle memory and confidence so he can come out facing live pitching and destroy the ball those pitchers think they’re serving into his hole.

JD4SF — SNOOTS! I love it. Is that barn-baseball vernacular for (snot) if so thank you and can I borrow the phrase? The HS boys will love it!!

CU, you should really just admit being part of the Larry Baer PR Campaign.

You pretty much did by calling out of Ernest Riles (@ 11:42). Setting aside the rule monitor aspects (I mean, c’mon ), I can think of nothing LESS “Go Giants” than publicly embarrassing a former Giant, a well loved one at that, by doubting his identity when he came on the board to share a positive comment regarding the team (at 7:43 last night).

This is, of course, unless you had access to know it wasn’t him, which as part of the Giant family, you would.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

CU,

there is actually one out there that runs a video of the actual pitcher you want to emulate, complete with arm slot placement for the release point.

JD: I take it your dog (name please) doesn’t watch each play with you?

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

CU,

whats weird, Larsen was in the crowd when David Cone pitched his perfecto at the game dedicated to Larsen’s perfect game’s anniversary.

My guess, Larsen went to the john during yesterday’s pitcher’s AB, or he went upstairs to b!tch slap Kuiper for saying Cain was perfect through five.

primetimedonna

CU

Some discussion of BCraw’s barehanded grab. It was appreciated!! Seeing it in person it was quite awesome!! Love that kid!!!

JD4SF

ClutchUp says:
April 14th, 2012 at 12:45 pm
180..
JD4SF says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:35 pm 171..I saw on TV the pitching machine the Giants now have where you can program the kind of pitch, speed, and location to serve up to each hitter in the batting cage. VERY cool! Here’s hoping Belt is smacking the snoots off that machine, building muscle memory and confidence so he can come out facing live pitching and destroy the ball those pitchers think they’re serving into his hole.

JD4SF — SNOOTS! I love it. Is that barn-baseball vernacular for (snot) if so thank you and can I borrow the phrase? The HS boys will love it!!

Where did you see the machine advertsised again?

========

LOL, haven’t you heard “beat the snoots out of X” before as a phrase? My dad used it all the time. But that may seriously date that phrase, since he’d be 112 if he was still alive.

I was on the phone at the time, but post game there was some Giants stuff on TV and they were shown programming that pitching machine. One person explaining the programming to another which made me suspect it was new.

No idea of the brand or the cost, but it had a digital readout and they were literally programming the pitch to the Nth detail.

primetimedonna

JD4SF Re Pitching machine & Belt

Bravo!!!

Stu Miller’s Gust

“-You should look in the mirror. I have one board name, unlike you”

That’s an outright lie. What you have is a computer program, developed by a military contractor, that allows a single commenter to appear to be posting from anywhere in the world as hundreds of different ‘humans’. Ypu also have the ability to attach spyware through the links you post and to hack into the e-mail accounts of people of the SJMN staff, KNBR, or any other business and website. This medium is operated by the devil and you are one of his minions.

TYJmL&S

JustGuessing

Final comments abut the opener:
I don’t remember seeing so much wind at AT&T. McCutcheon broke the wrong way so Nate’s popup became a hit. It’s possible the wqind knocked the ball down.

About California fans:
I know Giants fans are great, and the players say so with sincerity, but right or wrong this is what I observed yesterday. The fans were sort of quiet, even in applauding Cain after the hit. Compared to Boston, where I came from, downright sedentary.
My first ball game I attended after arriving in California was around 1987, the fourth game of A’s-Red Sox playoffs. A’s won. They won the pennant 4-0. Mild applause and lots of talk by the fans on the way out about where to eat dinner. I could not believe it. Where are the burning cop cars? The screams? Don’t these people care? Radnich has this one right…too much entertainment competition in the Bay Area for a fan’s heart and soul to go just to one team. But after a six-month New England winter, with football over and basketball and hockey ending, and crocuses in bloom, baseball is all there is, after six months of gloom.
Then in the last two years I saw A’s-Red Sox (where did my childhood Sox go? it’s all mercenaries except for ‘roid-ridden Papi but boy does that Beltre have a sweet swing, speaking of which Beltran really had a sweet swing too, too bad he was impossible to like). Then I saw last year Giants-Red Sox, and I could not believe that the Red Sox fans clearly outchanted the Giants fans I mean clearly, all game long. Some Giants fans started chanting in a way that showed they had never done it before, out of embarrassment I hope.
When we stood up to applaud Posey at his first at bat, some guy two rows back, sober but crabby, yelled “sit down everybody, you don’t have to stand up for every at-bat”. And no one called him on it. All of us should have turned to him in unison and yelled, “Posey’s home, you idiot. What team are you following?” But we didn’t.

Come on Giants fans. Get louder. Much louder. We have something really special this year and they will win the division.

I opined that it was because they were just so happy. The weather had no business being so beautiful after a big storm the night before and gloomy skies and rain all morning. the park was beautiful. Posey was home (and how!). Bryan Stow is alive and his family represents all that is good about love.

Lefty

CU,

I mentioned Crawford’s play around #84.

ClutchUp

The Wisdom Cow says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:47 pm 182..CU, you should really just admit being part of the Larry Baer PR Campaign. You pretty much did by calling out of Ernest Riles (@ 11:42). Setting aside the rule monitor aspects (I mean, c’mon ), I can think of nothing LESS “Go Giants” than publicly embarrassing a former Giant, a well loved one at that, by doubting his identity when he came on the board to share a positive comment regarding the team (at 7:43 last night). This is, of course, unless you had access to know it wasn’t him, which as part of the Giant family, you would.

4. No impersonating real-life public figures, alive or dead. This includes parents of the players, etc. (Bob Lurie actually called me once and asked if I could stop someone from commenting under his name.)

I was THE guy Andy “had to email” asking that I stop using Bob Lurie — I did not even KNOW there were House Rules — Another funny story was another poster wrote: “Hey Bob is that You” … a neighbor of Mr. Luries from Silverado-Living!

After that I used GG#12 or GoldenGlove#12 and settled on CU.

But I swear the yarmulke – Larry Baer story WAS true. He walked under a prop …. “down went” the yarmulke and … I picked it up! Sorry to disappoint you though…

I don’t know Ernie personally but do know that Riles hit number 10K HR in G’s history and we got HackMan (14/00) for Ernie in a trade

ClutchUp

Freddie Sanchez says: April 14th, 2012 at 7:08 am 89..The good news is that we are only two games back in the wild card race.

JD: I take it your dog (name please) doesn’t watch each play with you?
=========

Lexie is my shadow, and has been for about 11 years now. Black (with some white) dog with an orange collar, so yes, she roots for the Giants.

She knows it is time to perk up and do a doggie cheer when I WOOT! Smart dog. When I yell Go Giants! Go Giants! she whips her tail and even doggie talks with mini-barks to help cheer on the team. She’s a hoot. LOL

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Stu,

what’s your mission, spear a windmill or pet a donkey’s butt. Jobu doesn’t recognize the devil’s existence, he’s a multipurpose diety and laughs at email security. By the way, I’m the guy, who knows the guy, who knows the guy…

Nipper

Giants Beltless again.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Nipper look at Huff’s numbers, not to mention Pagan’s against the Pirates pitcher, .500+.

ClutchUp

JustGuessing says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:57 pm 190..Final comments abut the opener:I don’t remember seeing so much wind at AT&T. McCutcheon broke the wrong way so Nate’s popup became a hit. It’s possible the wqind knocked the ball down.About California fans:

- JG: You are NOT wrong its just like this. 2012 the G’s just reached 29K and change season ticket holders. The core group of Candlestick fans ran anywhere from 5K to 11K to a high of 11K to 22K. Those old core Stick fans were like the current A’s core group especially out in RF.

- PacBell/SBC, ATT, Willie Mays Field, House that Barry Built ushered in a new breed of fan more worried about sitting behind either On Deck Circles while on their Cell phones waving to somebody on TV; Or sitting in the Luxury Pits behind home plate doing the same; Or needing to be seen wearing animal hats associated with certain players.

- The amount of “Fans” sitting in Club View eating and drinking and watching THE game on TV is amazing?

Me? I NEED to be watching the game LIVE if I am at ATT. I can eat later. My eyes have to be looking at the field in person.

During the G’s years at the Stick there was ONE private club near/on their mezzanine. I’ve been to Wrigley and Fenway. Those are fans. My definition of the best fanbase is St. Louis and no offense to SF hard core fans.

primetimedonna

Do we have a lineup or just speculation?

JD4SF

Alex tweet:
Vogey back tomorrow, Freddy still in AZ, Surkamp and Runzler still rehabbing

Stu Miller’s Gust

BASED ON A TRUE STORY:

There was at group of psychology grad students at a major university who conducted an experiment. They convinced ‘volunteers’ that they were part of a study to see if causing pain via electric shocks would help people to remember things. They made it appear that humans in another room were suffering great pain, but ordered the ‘volunteers’ to continue anyway. To their astonishment, most of them complied.
However, one of the ‘volunteers’ didn’t. He figured one of two things was true, either this experiment was exactly what he was being told, or that it was really a study to see if ordinary humans could be coerced into committing evil. He prayed to his Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit entered his body. He then proceeded to overturn their equipment and whipped them to within an inch of their lives, then expelled them from the school.

JD4SF

PTD I haven’t seen the actual lineup yet.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

CU, you do realize you just went from telling of SMG that you only have one board name to saying you used to Bob Lurie, right?

———————————

Not buying it, though, at least for now. You’re a Larry Baer Spin Agent until you go “Jackin’ it in San Diego” to prove otherwise.

Stu Miller’s Gust says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:56 pm 172..“-That’s an outright lie. What you have is a computer program, developed by a military contractor, that allows a single commenter to appear to be posting from anywhere in the world as hundreds of different ‘humans’. Ypu also have the ability to attach spyware through the links you post and to hack into the e-mail accounts of people of the SJMN staff, KNBR, or any other business and website. This medium is operated by the devil and you are one of his minions. TYJmL&S

Gust:
What a HOOT/Woot: I have zero idea what TYJmL&S means nor did I understand any of your (Kings2Kings) logic.

Send me an email at student-athlete@hotmail.com and I will respond and thus you can Voodoo Trace my IP address so you can have an internet orgasm.

primetimedonna

JD

Thanks. Thought it was early!

Stu Miller’s Gust

“Stu, what’s your mission?”

We both know the answer to that question. What’s yours?

ClutchUp

The Wisdom Cow says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:15 pm 204..CU, you do realize you just went from telling of SMG that you only have one board name to saying you used to Bob Lurie, right?Not buying it, though, at least for now. You’re a Larry Baer Spin Agent until you go “Jackin’ it in San Diego” to prove otherwise.

Leave it to you WC: There’s a huge difference between then and now. After using Mr. Lurie and GG#12 and getting the official email from Baggs – I settled on CU. But that didn’t go well because sans Avatar, Tito_Mac was logging on as CU blah blah blah and so now you know per Edwin R. Murrow – The Rest of the Story

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

Stu,

if you’re going to screw up Stanley Milgram’s experiment, at least look it up on Wikipedia first. What a marroon.

CC: Must be a deprivation of medication!?! That or the Gust that blew Stew off the mound at the Stick led to too many nights leaving the real Stu’s Hole In One liquor Store in San Carlos with several grocery bags of adult beverages.

Stu Miller’s Gust

“I have zero idea what TYJmL&S means nor did I understand any of your (Kings2Kings) logic.”

Actually you know perfectly well what TYJmL&S means, and I used the screen name Knight2King1 here and on SF Gate before you deleted the account. Truth be told, that screen name was an affectation, as I am but a pawn in the Lord’s game, just being moved down the chessboard one square at a time, hoping to make it to the eighth rank.

Speculator

Stu Miller’s Gust says:
April 14th, 2012 at 12:33 pm

Clutch up, you’re despicable. At least Ralph never got on this blog and lied about his job or posted using numerous sock-puppets. I don’t know why the SJMN allows you to use this forum to be a such a creep.

=====
++++++++++

The most dispicable thing Clutch Up does is to repeatedly bring children into his comments in order to feed his seemingly insatiable desire to denigrate Barbieri. Clutch Up has repeatedly brough up Ralphs child in his quest to take down Ralph. That should never be done, whether you’re taking on a celebrity or the president of the United States. Shame on you Clutch Up. A grown man (we assume) dirtying the reputation of a child to feed your own needs. Agree with Stu – the Mercury News should not be hosting such despicable fare

ClutchUp

Wisdom: Thanks for the UTube Jackin-it-in SD. I promise not to tell Uncle Larry or the IT dept about the dicey-ness of that song, because I posted Lee Elia’s full on Adult Language version of his Rant when he managed the Cubbies.

But you need to get contemorary, CU. Not a transistor radio but listening on a cell phone via bluetooth tuned into KNBR game coverage so you’re hands-free. AT&T also has a free wi-fi you can connect to for 4 hours during the game to get more coverage.

ClutchUp

Speculator says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:25 pm 210..Stu Miller’s Gust says:
April 14th, 2012 at 12:33 pmClutch up, you’re despicable. At least Ralph never got on this blog and lied about his job or posted using numerous sock-puppets. I don’t know why the SJMN allows you to use this forum to be a such a creep.The most dispicable thing Clutch Up does is to repeatedly bring children into his comments in order to feed his seemingly insatiable desire to denigrate Barbieri. Clutch Up has repeatedly brough up Ralphs child in his quest to take down Ralph. That should never be done, whether you’re taking on a celebrity or the president of the United States. Shame on you Clutch Up. A grown man (we assume) dirtying the reputation of a child to feed your own needs. Agree with Stu – the Mercury News should not be hosting such despicable fare

I have brought up Tayte twice, and their is a Mother Bear on here that has brought up why RB had to “go that route”.

Regarding other children that I have brought up, you have no proof.

JD4SF

Existing House Rules of this Blog

“No personal attacks on myself (formerly Baggs, now Alex and Carl) or other users.”

It really is possible to have opposing opinions and still remain respectful of the other person’s right to their own opinion.

ClutchUp

JD4SF says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:28 pm 213..ClutchUp says:
April 14th, 2012 at 1:10 pm199..An original Giant fan probably has his/her SF Hat, Windbreaker, transistor and leaves his/her seat maybe once …..maybe!Guess I qualify for “original” fan. I’ll leave my seat for a pit stop.But you need to get contemorary, CU. Not a transistor radio but listening on a cell phone via bluetooth tuned into KNBR game coverage so you’re hands-free. AT&T also has a free wi-fi you can connect to for 4 hours during the game to get more coverage.

JD: I lose way too much stuff. The transitor fits in the backpack. Guarantee that I would lose an electronic device that cost that much $.

ClutchUp

Speculator aka Stu’s Gust proving his theory to be true. Same Same.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

CU,

see what a westerly wind brings, Santa Anna insanity from snakeland or someone skipped their thorazine.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Having a talk with a person on a different board who is involved in some school district debates regarding methods et al, anyone remember the day or board in which the different types of learning was discussed (effort vs results) as a tangent to conditioning stuff?

The threads are too damn long for me to go through all, but if it is narrowed I can find the reference.

Speculator

“I have brought up Tayte twice,”

teh google disagrees

Jstreet

Prime time D, thank you. Twice.

Speculator, thank you too. If the shoe fits…

Stu’s (dis)Gust, that was as close to a personal attack on CU as it gets. And no, I am not a sock puppet.

Thanks to all for your unique perspective. I think I’m catching on. Bit by bit.

And to all who want to “obsess” over a rookie’s play, checkmout Crawford’s glove, both yesterday and in the future. Clinical shortstop stuff.

Lefty

CU,

Naw, I went easy on the kids for their little party the other night. They didn’t do anything bad–just a bit noisy. I didn’t think other hotel guests would make a complaint before 11 p.m.–when we do bed checks–but apparently someone did.

My bigger problem is that one of my four girls keeps going AWOL with her boyfriend. She’s a sophomore; he’s a senior, and you know how that goes.

This has been a fun trip, but I’m pretty exhausted. I’ll be useless at work this week…

JD4SF

The Wisdom Cow says:
April 14th, 2012 at 1:41 pm
220..
Having a talk with a person on a different board who is involved in some school district debates regarding methods et al, anyone remember the day or board in which the different types of learning was discussed (effort vs results) as a tangent to conditioning stuff?

The threads are too damn long for me to go through all, but if it is narrowed I can find the reference.
====

I think you’re referring to Lefty’s post on 4/10?

Lefty

Dinero @12:28 p.m.:
“Foothills – yep, GB is struggling to adjust to the EL no doubt. Still too early to make any conclusions though IMO. Gotta let it play out a bit.”

Yes, that is exactly what many of us have been trying to say about that OTHER prospect. You know, the one others are scolding us for even talking about anymore?

Because…isn’t that how you do with top prospects?

E-B

Lefty, 84, 85: + + +

hope those gators are behind big thick tall walls.
safe travels back home to ya.

———————-

Lefty

Wisdom Cow: I was talking about Carol Dweck (Stanford psychologist) and her work on “fixed mindset” versus “growth mindset” and what you praise children for: “fixed” being when you tell a child “you’re so smart” and “growth” when you say “you worked so hard.” Oversimplifying, but that’s the thumbnail version.

http://thewisdomcow.blogspot.com/ The Wisdom Cow

Thanks, JD, found it.

Lefty, coincidence? The person I was about to bring this up to is about to be arguing in front of a Senate Finance Committee regarding the Baton Rouge School District. Now, that’s a bit creepy, given I don’t believe in coincidence.

moto

(188, 180)Clutch, back in southern Ill. and southeast Mo, ‘snoots’ is also a synonym for ‘snouts’ because they like dining on that part of the swine. if you know where to go in St.Louis, you can also find a sandwich that’s overflowing with a fried pig’s brain.

Foothills Ryan

Outstanding additions by JustGuessing. Love those first person accounts.

As for speculator and Stu’sGust, more like disgust. I always thought Clutch was a little harsh on Ralph, but that was his issue and I give him the benefit of the doubt because he is not one to attack. Willing to defend for sure, but he has plenty of credibility which is more than I can say for people who just come in on the attack, unprovoked.

Foothills Ryan

Lefty,

You’re a linguist. Are you a Chomsky fan? Colorless green ideas sleep furiously…

ClutchUp

Lefty says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:45 pm 221..CU,My bigger problem is that one of my four girls keeps going AWOL with her boyfriend. She’s a sophomore; he’s a senior, and you know how that goes. This has been a fun trip, but I’m pretty exhausted. I’ll be useless at work this week…

Lefty: – Don’t remind me, Oh okay I see it every day. Some kids are much crueler than coaches/chaperones are with the group. The other day a senior/soph and senior/freshman foursome had others referring to the two boys as bottom-feeding. A tad harsh.

Don’t worry Linda Katehi won’t catch on ….

Sansabelt

I’m still trying to figure out exactly what Brandon Belt has done to DESERVE to be an everyday player.

I mean, other than all of that potential that the armchair GMs insist he has but hasn’t really shown during his opportunities.

Pill rides the bench and hits a HR in his first AB. Nate rides the pine and hits 2 HRs in his first start. Belt plays and has 5ks in 10 ABs, yet Bochy is a daburn fool for not running him out there every day?

Belt so far has been worse than Huff, Pill, Nate and Blanco, and is deservedly behind them on the depth chart. It’s up to him to change that.

JD4SF

moto, the “fried pigs brain” isn’t something I’d ever want to try – didn’t care for the scrambled lambs brain my dad liked to serve up as a delicacy when I was a kid – but it is also interesting in history how folks learned to make entire use of an animal. Meat, skin, use the fat, guts, etc. And there are still cultures around the world who do this. On the flip side there are lots of urban folks now who haven’t quite figured out where that packaged meat in the store actually comes from.

ClutchUp

moto says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:57 pm (188, 180)Clutch, back in southern Ill. and southeast Mo, ‘snoots’ is also a synonym for ‘snouts’ because they like dining on that part of the swine. if you know where to go in St.Louis, you can also find a sandwich that’s overflowing with a fried pig’s brain.

Moto: Thanks for the great knowledge. I will have to look the other way and give the delicacy a try. I always smiled at the fact that my eyes keep my away from so many dishes that a “Ray Charles” type would just go for. Such a curse at times = vision

ClutchUp

Foothills Ryan says: April 14th, 2012 at 2:01 pm 229..Outstanding additions by JustGuessing. Love those first person accounts. As for speculator and Stu’sGust, more like disgust. I always thought Clutch was a little harsh on Ralph, but that was his issue and I give him the benefit of the doubt because he is not one to attack. Willing to defend for sure, but he has plenty of credibility which is more than I can say for people who just come in on the attack, unprovoked.

Foothills: Maybe Ralph will end up over on 95.7 The Game. My issues WERE harsh I will admit, but they were stoked by several eye witness accounts:

(1) The episode between RB and the Giants Player Parking lot long time employee who is wheelchair-handicapped bound who is an institution and who politely asked Mr. B to “not park” where he parked. RB challenged, chided and ridiculed said employee with F bombs, only to have Debby McGowan later come over and console the employee.

(2) 1982 Personal attack on USF’s then President Rev. John Lo Schiavo for dropping men’s hoops over the Quentin Daily (RIP) and using his radio format to call the Rev. some outlandish names.

(3) His driving drunk and getting 4 DUI’s.

(4) His public treatment of members of the opposite sex.

(5) The way he talked on KNBR about celebrities or callers who disagreed with him using words that boarded on the Carlin “7″.

• Go Giants
• Go Giants

Scott

Sansabelt – By your reasoning Matt Williams would never have become a starter. If you question that, check the numbers – pay particularly close attention to 1987,1988 and 1989. Then see what happened when the Giants said “we are committed” in 1990.

Channel: I notice that Ervin and Frank McCourt have not been filmed sitting with each other lately….

Too bad Mitchvman’s “group” at 1.6B were not given their shot.

Scott

I only had one personal encounter with Ralph, and he was less than polite. No big deal I suppose, I was just a listener.

On the air he was an insecure jerk. He fancied himself as an ace interviewer simply because he was willing to be rude.

He clearly had an inferiority complex when it came to his verbal skills, particularly in the area of vocabulary. He awkwardly used esoteric words, seemingly looking for recognition as a master wordsmith.

His interminably long and convoluted questions that frequently lead to frustrated guests made for bad radio.

I wish him well, but do not look forward to hearing him on the radio again.

Bases Drunk

Sansabelt – what Belt has done is showed the professional scouts that he has a A+ glove and the potential to hit 30 + home runs a year , yes scouts are wrong but just about every young player fails at first in the show LOOK at every allstar right now when they 1st came up and how they struggled, look at A-rod, Bonds 1st full year he batted .223

Giants management 8 days ago decided to live with Belts growing pains and commit to him as there starting 1st baseman 3 days and 1 for 11 changed there mind for some reason so really everybody isnt saying what has Belt deserved its more how can a professional management team decide in 3 days they where wrong ?

Every young player when a team commits to him as a starter needs 400 at bats to judge is it just potential or is he legit as 99% of baseball managers will tell you.

Yes the giants are trying to win a world series and win now but so is every team !

Scott

CC,
Have you looked at the numbers? The similarities to this point are striking. Check it out.

I’ve looked, and a lot of guys have co-linear career stats, until they don’t. The jury’s out on Belt, but I’m optimistic. Maybe survives his rite of passage, maybe he doesn’t. Time will tell.

http://www.fangraphs.com/ channelclemente

CU,

there was that one game last week, but now that the sale is final, Magic took a long shower and moved on.

Wonder where the Nexan went to?

Scott

CC,
It’s not just the stats that are “co-linear,” it’s also the circumstances. The concerns about the “holes” in Matt’s swing, and the propensity for strikeouts.

We won’t know, time itself will NOT tell, until the Giants do what Bochy said they would – stick with the kid.

ClutchUp

Sansabelt says: April 14th, 2012 at 2:06 pm I’m still trying to figure out exactly what Brandon Belt has done to DESERVE to be an everyday player. I mean, other than all of that potential that the armchair GMs insist he has but hasn’t really shown during his opportunities. Pill rides the bench and hits a HR in his first AB. Nate rides the pine and hits 2 HRs in his first start. Belt plays and has 5ks in 10 ABs, yet Bochy is a daburn fool for not running him out there every day?Belt so far has been worse than Huff, Pill, Nate and Blanco, and is deservedly behind them on the depth chart. It’s up to him to change that.

++++++++++ Great Post +++++++++++
Unfortunately THIS topic is not galvanizing any of us who disagree with you point. Most of the Belt fans viewpoint will polorize this board.

Do I WANT him to play? Yes. Do the Giants NEED him to play? No not right now. All the social media circus does not allow for anything to be kept in house. Fanatical human beings are demanding answers. If those people do some rediculous boycott of filling up the seats I guarantee that there will still be between 39 and 41K every single game.

In 2013 BB9 will be a fixture through 2025+++ IMO

avwh

CC:

Larsen was ON THE FIELD before the game, honored as part of the ’62 WS Giants:

He should count his (Belt) lucky stars if he gets 200+ ABs this year. If he’s going to show it, that is where he needs to focus. As long as the Giants play in AT&T, Belt hitting 30 HRs is a fantasy, IMO. He needs to shorten up, hit line drives, and learn to pick his spots and pitches. That’s what Matt Williams did, and why he stayed in the bigs. You’ve sort of IDed Belts career path with Williams, now he needs to follow it. It’s not his power potential being in question that’s the issue, it just contact and pitcher adjustment. It’s like I said earlier, many are called, but few bring a bat.

avwh

CU:
are you from S. Illinois or the STL area?

I grew up on a farm near Waterloo, ~20 mi SE of STL.

ClutchUp

Scott says: April 14th, 2012 at 2:43 pm CC,It’s not just the stats that are “co-linear,” it’s also the circumstances. The concerns about the “holes” in Matt’s swing, and the propensity for strikeouts.We won’t know, time itself will NOT tell, until the Giants do what Bochy said they would – stick with the kid.

CC: You have a new friend (kidding). Bochy can’t be the ONLY one who is held accountable for saying we will stick with the kid. Not when they go 0-3 and get a Lady of Fatima game from Barry (the same Barry playing on stage with Train over the weekend)….

I have figured OUT that Bochy is NOT a social media butterfly. He speaks like an old time Skipper or Gunslinger and has no inkling of thinking that he owes anybody a back up response.

I’d let it go and root for the 25 … the 12 pitchers and 13 position players as a WHOLE.

ClutchUp

avwh says: April 14th, 2012 at 2:50 pm CU:are you from S. Illinois or the STL area?I grew up on a farm near Waterloo, ~20 mi SE of STL.

Matt did have a different manager, one that successfully brought up a couple prospects, if memory serves.

ClutchUp

Brandon Belt Issues. JT Snow likes/loves Brandon Belt but on KNBR last night he IMO gave the definitive responses on what he feels IS happening to BB9 and what could transpire going forward.

Now after listening to a former solid major leaguer (nothing spectacular but solid) and knowing that he worked with BB9 two years ago and again this year – after listening closely to JT’s explanation -AND- if you/we still don’t get the dynamics of someone speaking the baseball truth – then – it is doubtful that those rooting for Belt just for the sake of Belt – will NEVER understand completely what is going on.

I think, all my ‘friends’ but one, are dead. Not counting family, of course.

as to Bochy, I don’t tweet, or facebook either…..Bochy is one of the last of the Charlie Manuel types. He’s figured it out, Sabean’s is the only opinion that counts, and at some point, every manager is fired. BTW, Rubin Amaro hand picked Manuel, because he understands baseball genius is not the same as public speaking. You wouldn’t believe how often Philly fans call Manuel a lying buiffon or worse. It’s a thankless job win or lose. I figure Bochy puts up with the goofi in the CSN media and locals here, because he likes NAPA and the wine. We’re lucky to have him, and it’ll be a while when he’s gone before we see better. Just my opinion, mind you.

livefree

Pagan can’t or won’t bunt? I assume it’s pure ego and he wont, so shame on Bochy for not making it happen. If he can’t, then shame on the organization for not making that happen in spring training.

A leadoff hitter can and will bunt … that’s the way the game is played. If the defense is worried about it, it opens up other holes. To totally disdain it is to not play the game correctly.

Scroll back aways. JD used snoots in a reference and then someone followed UP with a literal explanation….. Back aways.

ClutchUp

avwh: Here ya go:

moto says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:57 pm (188, 180)Clutch, back in southern Ill. and southeast Mo, ‘snoots’ is also a synonym for ‘snouts’ because they like dining on that part of the swine. if you know where to go in St.Louis, you can also find a sandwich that’s overflowing with a fried pig’s brain.

avwh

CU:

fixed (that what I get for titling it from the thumbnail instead of opening and checking).

avwh

Ah, so it was moto, not you. Thanks.

Where you from, moto?

ClutchUp

channelclemente says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:42 pm CU,what I meant about Kate, is that her primary showcase is Radnich show, and if he goes, who know who gets caught by the broom. In a year or maybe less, I would love to see her in Pappa/Kozimors chair. Fast track those other morons out of the way or the door. Being gay doesn’t seem to slow Radnich down, at least with the comments, although I understand he’s use to blonds with different equipment.

CC: WoW are these loading out of order, I just saw your funny on Radunich’s propensity for strange talent. You have a good memory.

#FreeKateScott

ClutchUp

Stu Miller’s Gust says: April 14th, 2012 at 1:24 pm “I have zero idea what TYJmL&S means nor did I understand any of your (Kings2Kings) logic.”Actually you know perfectly well what TYJmL&S means, and I used the screen name Knight2King1 here and on SF Gate before you deleted the account. Truth be told, that screen name was an affectation, as I am but a pawn in the Lord’s game, just being moved down the chessboard one square at a time, hoping to make it to the eighth rank.

Dear Stu: Here is hoping you get well fast. I do not work for KNBR or the Mercury. I guessed your former name BECAUSE of your propensity for using an avatar ALL THINGS YELLOW. It was a lucky guess, similar to what anything East Coast considered the G’s 2010 run to the postseason and the 2010 WS.

I know PrimeTimeDonna is going to read this and guffaw falling down on the floor because she knows me and knows that your delusion of who I am is from Earth to Planet Mars off. I coach HS baseball and have been a long time SF 49er and Giant fan. Nothing more nothing less, but thank your for the “flattering” expose. Had I had any of what you claim then REHKSTR and Titi would have been bye-bye way long time ago.

It was the YELLOW avatar … get it?

ClutchUp

Stu Miller’s Gust says: April 14th, 2012 at 12:28 pm A PERFECT GAME DEFINED: A game in which the pitcher faces 27 batters, allows no hits, and throws 27 pitches to get a complete game shutout.By that definition, there has never been a perfect game, and there never will, but perfection is in fact something humans can never achieve.

Dear Stu:

“Dominus vobiscum … Et cum spiritu tuo”

Where or Where do you come UP with these things? The only thing religious about baseball is the many aformentioned dalliances of one Annie Savoy.

A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher (or combination of pitchers) pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base.

Thus, the pitcher (or pitchers) cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any other reason—in short, “27 up, 27 down”.